The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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50 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2024 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND N ational Signing Day is right around the corner in early December, and that means flips are abundant on the recruiting trail. Michigan pressed hard for On300 Newburgh (Ind.) Castle defensive lineman Benny Pat- terson III, and the Wolverines were able to steal him away from Cincinnati in early November. " We a lways ta l ke d a b o u t 'You're going to know when you know,'" said Patterson's father, Benny Jr. "We went on several visits, and you kind of get the used car salesman pitch on ev- ery visit, where they tell you why they are the best. You hear it all. "But from the first call he received from Coach Lou [Esposito] to offer him an opportunity to play at Michigan to the commitment, every conversation was first class. It was gen- uine. You didn't feel like you were being sold a dream. "Nothing was promised. They just talked about opportunity. From the re- cruiting staff to the head coach, every- body seemed like they had their stuff together. They had a plan and knew what they wanted from him. I thought that was unique." The Patterson family made an official visit to Michigan for its clash against Michigan State in late October. It was there where they felt at home. "Being there and talking to them sealed the deal," Benny Jr. said. "When we walked in, we knew that was the place that he wanted to play at. We enjoyed talking to everyone we came across. "The game-day atmosphere and see- ing them play their rivalry game against Michigan State with 112,000 fans in the stands was amazing. You just want to be a part of that. The game and the culture were second to none." Esposito, Michigan's defensive line coach, made several fall evaluations, focusing on late senior risers in the trenches. After watching Benny III's tape, he picked up the phone and ex- tended an offer. Esposito prioritized Benny III and quickly built a relationship with him and his family. "He's very straightforward and genuine," Benny Jr. said. "He didn't overpromise any- thing. He talked about where he saw him at in the defense and what he can eventually be if he puts the work in. "He was very genuine. People at other schools promise you stuff that's not realistic. We saw the buy-in from the players when we were sitting in his of- fice after the game. Players were coming in and having normal conversations with him. The way he was in front of us is the way he is with his players — that really sold Benny on wanting to play for him." Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore also made a strong impression. "He's a very calm, temperate person," Benny Jr. said. "He's not loud. He's very genuine. We had a great conversation. He made Benny and the family feel wel- comed. It wasn't a rushed conversation. "We talked about him and where the program was going. We walked away thinking he was someone you would want to play for and run through a wall for. He's amazing person. That stood out a lot to us." At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, the younger Patterson, who is ranked as the No. 23 defensive lineman and No. 224 overall recruit nationally, is a versatile pros- pect who can rush the passer or play with his hand in the dirt as a 4i or three- technique. Benny Jr. views his son as a perfect fit for U-M as an edge rusher. "Like where [Josaiah] Stewart plays right now," Benny Jr. said. "With his length, explosiveness and being able to be quick off the ball, I see him coming in and competing to play in that role. [The Michigan State game] was a prime example of how good the scheme can be. I call them 'Edge U.' Anyone that plays normally ends up going to the next level. The scheme is very creative and fits Benny's skill set." ❑ On300 Defensive Lineman Benny Patterson III Flips From Cincinnati At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Patterson is ranked by On3 as the No. 23 defensive lineman and No. 224 overall recruit nationally. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Patterson is an intriguing re- cruit who offers flexibility upfront. He has ex- perience rushing the passer but has the frame to bulk up and play closer to 280 pounds at the next level. Patterson brings length and athleticism and may be at his best with his hand in the dirt as a 4i (filling the gap between the offensive tackle and guard). Patterson has a quick first step and is explosive off the line. He may need time to develop, but he has a high ceiling. WEAKNESSES: Patterson is a bit of a tweener at this time. While he flashes as a pass rusher, he is still very raw from a technical standpoint. He can clean up his hand usage as well as his pad level. Patterson could go in a lot of different directions depending on how he pro- gresses in Michigan's strength and condition- ing program. Because of this, he is somewhat of an unknown and has a lower floor. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: If Benny hits that high ceiling, he could follow a similar path as former Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins. Remember, Jenkins was consid- ered an edge as a recruit before bulking up and eventually playing as a 300-pound 4i. Like Jenkins, Patterson has the length, athleticism and frame to outplay his ranking — On3 is the only service that currently lists him as a four-star recruit. — EJ Holland