Keeanu Benton

Keeanu Benton (born July 17, 2001) is an American football nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.

Keeanu Benton

No. 95 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:	Nose tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2001-07-17) July 17, 2001 (age 21) Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:	Joseph A. Craig (Janesville)
College:	Wisconsin (2019–2022)
NFL Draft:	2023 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2023–present)
Roster status:	Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big Ten (2021) Third-team All-Big Ten (2022)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Benton grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin and attended Joseph A. Craig High School.^[1] As a senior, he made 75 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.^[2] Benton committed to play college football at Wisconsin over an offer from Iowa.^[3]

College career

Benton played in 13 games and made six starts at nose tackle as a freshman and finished the season with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.^[4][5] He played in seven games and made seven starts at nose tackle during his sophomore season.^[6] He was named second team All-Big Ten Conference as a junior after making 25 tackles with five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.^[7]

Statistics

NCAA Collegiate Career Statistics
Wisconsin Badgers
Season	Team	GP	Tackles				Interceptions					Fumbles
			Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FF	FR
2019	Wisconsin	8	12	8	4	2.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
2020	Wisconsin	7	9	5	4	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	2	0
2021	Wisconsin	12	24	11	13	2.5	0	0	0.0	0	2	0	2
2022	Wisconsin	12	36	20	16	4.5	0	0	0.0	0	2	0	0
Career		39	81	44	37	9.0	0	0	0	1	4	2	2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m)	309 lb (140 kg)	33+7⁄8 in (0.86 m)	9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m)	5.08 s	1.79 s	2.95 s	4.65 s	7.34 s	29.5 in (0.75 m)	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)	25 reps
All values from NFL Combine^[8]^[9]

Selected 49th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

References

1. "Craig graduate Keeanu Benton bucked the odds and played key role as a true freshman at Wisconsin". Janesville Gazette. January 27, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
2. Temple, Jesse (April 8, 2019). "Imposing, athletic and eager: Why DT Keeanu Benton could see the field at Wisconsin sooner rather than later". The Athletic. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
3. Galloway, Jason (May 12, 2018). "Janesville Craig defensive tackle Keeanu Benton reportedly commits to Badgers". APNews.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
4. "Badgers nose tackle Keeanu Benton working to make himself game ready as true freshman". Wisconsin State Journal. August 5, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
5. Vantress, David (August 6, 2021). "Janesville Craig grad Keeanu Benton ready to dominate for Wisconsin Badgers". The Janesville Gazette. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
6. "Badgers nose tackle Keeanu Benton likely to return in 2022". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
7. "Keeanu Benton vital to Wisconsin defensive line in final season". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 27, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
8. "Keeanu Benton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
9. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Keeanu Benton College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

External links

• Keeanu Benton on Twitter
• Wisconsin Badgers bio