Tag: Keeanu Benton

WATCH: Underrated Badgers defender leads team in sacks

Big man leading the way for Wisconsin so far

The Badgers football team has started the season 3-1 and they’ve won their last two contests heading into their bye week this week and James Thompson Jr. has been a huge part of their defensive success.

Thompson Jr. has recorded 15 total tackles (11 solo) including a team-high three sacks while also adding a pass deflection over the first four games of the year.

With Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton (15.5 combined sacks in 2022) both being drafted by the Steelers following the 2022 season, a lot of production was lost on the Badgers’ defense and Thompson Jr. could be the one who leads the team in sacks moving forward.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

WATCH: Former Wisconsin DL Keeanu Benton registers first career NFL sack

Big play from Keeanu Benton:

Wisconsin Badgers fans who watched last year’s team play know how important DL Keeanu Benton was to the team’s success. The defense was quite good when Benton was on the field, and then struggled to stop anything when he went to the sideline.

The defensive lineman registered 35 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks for the Badgers in 2022. I’d argue his value to the team isn’t close to fully represented with those numbers.

Related:Β Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 4: The Big Ten West is really, really, bad

The Pittsburgh Steelers wisely selected Benton in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Since stepping on the field Week 1, he’s already made a sizable impact.

It took until last night’s contest for the former Badger to register his first career sack, though. He quickly cut through the offensive line late in the third quarter and wrapped up Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garrappolo.

Benton’s stat line this season now includes six total tackles and that sack from last night.

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 3

How every former Badger performed this weekend:

Week 3 of the 2023 NFL Season is nearing its completion, with two Monday Night Football games yet to play.

Former Wisconsin Badgers were in the middle of some of the headline-grabbing action on Sunday, and it wasn’t all for great reasons.

First, Russell Wilson’s Broncos were the subject of a 70-20 demolishing by Alec Ingold and Andrew Van Ginkel’s Miami Dolphins. Then, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn’s Bears fell in Kansas City 41-10. A combined score of 110-30 from those two games tells the proper story of how much of a mismatch each contest was.

Related:Β Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 4: The Big Ten West is really, really, bad

Some Wisconsin products did have big days. Keeanu Benton registered his first career sack, Jake Ferguson continues to emerge as one of the Cowboys’ top options at tight end and more.

Here is how every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 3:

A former Wisconsin Badger was one of PFF’s highest-graded rookies from NFL Week 1

A high grade for a former Wisconsin DT:

There were very few bright spots during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

As it happens to be, most of the bright spots were former Wisconsin Badgers.

The first was perennial All-Pro T.J. Watt, who recorded three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Related:Β How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 1

The second was rookie Keeanu Benton, who ProFootballFocus graded as one of its top rookies of Week 1. The former Badger only recorded three total tackles, but PFF ranked his performance an 86.1 thanks to some excellence defending the run:

The Wisconsin product showed his run-stuffing ability in Week 1 against the Niners, earning a positive grade on over 11.8% of his run-defense snaps. And perhaps more impressively for a rookie, he earned no negative grades on those snaps.

The service also noted Benton was the second-highest graded Pittsburgh Steeler overall, behind another former Badger in T.J. Watt.

Benton, Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ cast of Wisconsin products are back in action Monday night as they host the Cleveland Browns.

WATCH: Steelers’ Nick Herbig & T.J. Watt both look ready for the season to begin

The two players look like mirror images of each other

No Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL have made more on-the-field headlines than the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive trio of Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and T.J. Watt.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is part of the biggest off-the-field headline in the NFL right now, as Indianapolis has given him until Tuesday to find a suitable trade partner to fulfill his request.

Back to Pittsburgh, both Herbig and Benton look like early NFL Draft steals thanks to Herbig’s highlight-reel sacks and Benton’s steady disruption of opposing offenses. Watt doesn’t play much before the season begins, and he shouldn’t need to. But in the Steelers’ preseason finale against the Falcons last night both Herbig and Watt looked ready for the season to begin:

The sack now brings Herbig’s preseason total to 3.5, that along with four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss. He and Watt look primed to help lead a Steelers pass rush that will go up against most of the NFL’s best quarterbacks this season.

Steelers training camp: DT Keeanu Benton returns to practice on Wednesday

The Steelers got rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton back at practice on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back to work on Wednesday and the team got one of their great young defenders back. Rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is on the field after suffering an ankle injury in the team’s first preseason game on Saturday.

The Steelers drafted Benton in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft out of the University of Wisconsin. All Benton has done since arriving is impress everyone who has had a chance to observe his work. Benton dominated the line of scrimmage last week before his injury with his mix of burst and raw power.

Benton’s quick development is really going to force the Steelers to consider him for the starting lineup. For the first time in a long time, the Steelers have a significant amount of talent at the interior defensive line.Β  A rotation of Benton with players like Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko is going to be a real problem for offensive lines this season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Two former Badgers have big NFL preseason debuts

Big night for two former Badgers:

The NFL (pre)season is here, which means it’s time to check back in on how former Wisconsin Badgers are doing across the league.

Two notable Wisconsin products were in action last night as the Pittsburgh Steelers visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Week 1 of the preseason. The Steelers’ roster is full of Wisconsin products. Two of those players, the focus of today’s piece, are new to the league: defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and outside linebacker Nick Herbig.

Related:Β Every former Wisconsin Badger in the NFL entering 2023 training camp

Both players fell in the draft, somewhat inexplicably. Benton fell to the second round (pick No. 49 overall), while Herbig fell to the fourth (No. 132 overall).

Benton and Herbig showed out in the Steelers’ preseason contest last night in their first NFL action:

Benton finished the contest with three total tackles and one tackle for loss, while Herbig finished with three tackles, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits.

The two former Badgers will be in action next week as the Steelers host the Bills for NFL preseason Week 2.

Badger Countdown: Defensive lineman selected 49th overall in 2023 Draft

College football is on the horizon and there are now only 49 days until Luke Fickell and his Badgers’ opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

College football is on the horizon and there are now only 49 days until Luke Fickell and his Badgers opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. After four seasons with Wisconsin, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton was selected 49th overall (second round) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Benton will head to Pittsburgh after compiling 81 tackles, including nine sacks, over his four campaigns in Madison. He also added four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over his 44 total contests with the Badgers.

The 6-foot-4, 315-plus-pound athlete will now join a Steelers defensive unit that includes former Badgers T.J. Watt and Isaiahh Loudermilk amongst others.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

Former Wisconsin DL signs rookie contract with Steelers

Former Badger made history for the 49th draft pick with his rookie contract:

The Pittsburgh Steelers are becoming the Pittsburgh Badgers in a way. This year it added both Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig in the NFL Draft, adding the two to a core of T.J. Watt, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Scott Nelson.

Benton was the team’s second-round pick after a stellar season in Madison. The now-former Badger was the engine behind the 2022 defense. When on the field, the unit performed quite well. When Benton was forced to the bench, the group struggled.

He finished the 2022 season with 36 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks.

After joining the Steelers during draft season, Benton has officially signed his rookie contract with the team. Ian Rapoport notes “Benton has guaranteed money in the third year of his contract, the first time ever for the 49th pick.

Benton will look to continue his dominance on the football field when the Steelers kick off their season in September.

Badger Countdown: Number 95 moves on to the NFL

As the 2023 college football season slowly approaches, the Badgers are 95 days away from taking on Buffalo in their season opener Sept. 2.Β 

As the start of the 2023 college football season slowly approaches, the Wisconsin Badgers are 95 days away from taking on Buffalo in their season opener Sept. 2.

After four seasons with Wisconsin, defensive lineman Keeanu Benton will make the leap to the pros following his selection 49th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Prior to joining the Badgers, Benton was a superstar wrestler for Janesville High School, earning himself a full-ride scholarship to play defensive line for Paul Chryst at Wisconsin after spending one day with the coach.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound athlete went on to start 39 games over his four campaigns in Madison, racking up 81 total tackles, including nine sacks. Additionally, he was able to force two fumbles and recover two others while deflecting four passes during his career.

Benton will now join former teammates defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk and safety Scott Nelson in Pittsburgh as well as fellow draftee and former Badger Nick Herbig (4th round, 132nd overall).

In total, the Steelers have six former Wisconsin football players, also rostering both T.J. Watt and Derek Watt.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]