Rayshaun Benny describes broken leg rehab for Michigan football, when he felt healthy
In 2023, Michigan football had one of the best, if not the best, defensive fronts in the sport. With an interior rotation of Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Rayshaun Benny, and Cam Goode, the Wolverines were stout, and opposing teams had an awful time trying to run the ball or get any movement against the maize and blue tackles.
But Michigan became one short in the Rose Bowl against Alabama, with Benny going down with a broken leg. He recalled the situation on the In the Trenches Podcast with Jon Jansen on Wednesday.
"Well, when it happened, it was kind of just like -- I knew it was over," Benny said. "Never broke a bone. Just didn't know what it was supposed to feel like, but I was pretty confident that I broke something. I just knew something wasn't right. I lost all like lower movement. Everything was just weak down low. And yeah, kind of just knew from there."
The Wolverines had some wiggle room in terms of depth this past season, but not nearly as much as the year before. With Graham and Grant (both first-round NFL draft picks last month) starting, the question was more about who would come in behind them.
Benny was the obvious third, but he wasn't a full-go right at the season's outset. Yes, he was cleared to play, but he told Jansen that it took some time for him to get comfortable again and to the point where he felt like his old self.
"Yeah, it took about really into the season," Benny said. "I really didn't start feeling comfortable until a few weeks into the season. I started feeling better and started getting more moving and feeling myself again. But that process was long. I was just happy that I had the right people in my corner to go through it with me. They supported me. They was able to work with me. Like if stuff was going on with my body, they was able to help me. I probably didn't fully recover, though, until about September."
Now Benny is expected to be the star of the show up front and is working to do what he can to maximize his potential.
"I'm not recovering from an injury. This was really like the first offseason I had to be able to train and get better," Benny said. "So, really just trying to maximize this year. I don't have no other ability. Trying to max out, do what I can do to go first round."
Michigan is expected to be six deep this season with Benny, Trey Pierce, Tré Williams, Damon Payne, Enow Etta, and Ike Iwunnah all rotating -- whether it be with a two-man interior or, as we saw in the spring game, three tackles up front.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Geno VanDeMark
Entering the college football season, there might not be a more versatile offensive lineman on the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2025 roster than Geno VanDeMark. A transfer from Michigan State last offseason, VanDeMark burst onto the scene for Alabama a year ago as an instant impact addition, appearing in every game along the Crimson Tide's offensive line at a variety of different positions. Coming off that breakout season, VanDeMark now enters the 2025 campaign among the top options up front for the Crimson Tide once again, and is expected to make a significant impact this fall, similar to a year ago. Here is a look at everything you need to know about Alabama offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark entering the 2025 season. Geno VanDeMark player information Position: Offensive Line Jersey Number: No. 56 Height: 6'5 Weight: 326 Class: Redshirt Senior Hometown: Lodi, New Jersey High School: Saint Joseph Geno VanDeMark career stats An experienced player at the collegiate level, VanDeMark will be entering his fifth season of college football in 2025, three of which came at Michigan State from 2021-23. Across his four previous seasons between Michigan State and Alabama, VanDeMark has appeared in 31 career games, 10 of which he has started. Geno VanDeMark 2024 stats The 2024 season was VanDeMark's first at Alabama, with the offensive lineman appearing in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. VanDeMark started two games a year ago, one at left-and-right guard. Geno VanDeMark recruiting ranking Coming out of high school, VanDeMark was considered as the nation's No. 428 overall prospect in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, as well as the No. 29 interior offensive lineman nationally that cycle. Rated as a three-star prospect, VanDeMark was also considered the No. 8 player in the state of New Jersey that cycle in which he attended St. Joseph Regional High School. Prior to Alabama, VanDeMark was considered as the No. 1,394 overall player in the transfer portal last offseason, per 247Sports, as well as the No. 106 interior offensive lineman. VanDeMark, rated as a three-star prospect as a transfer, also committed to Alabama in May 2024. Geno VanDeMark 2025 season outlook Simply put, VanDeMark will be one of Alabama's most important offensive linemen during the 2025 season. Competing for the starting left guard spot with transfer addition Kam Dewberry, VanDeMark could potentially enter the fall as a starter, but even if that were not to happen, the former Michigan State transfer will still play a major role as a piece that could rotate in-and-out when needed. This could come at left guard, as well as other spots such as right guard and center. However, don't be surprised if VanDeMark begins the season as the starting left guard either, and for the redshirt senior to help strengthen what should be a very good Alabama offensive line. Geno VanDeMark 2025 season prediction 2025 Prediction: Appears in every game, at-least 2 starts Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football 2025 preview, predictions: Geno VanDeMark
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Geno VanDeMark
Entering the college football season, there might not be a more versatile offensive lineman on the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2025 roster than Geno VanDeMark. A transfer from Michigan State last offseason, VanDeMark burst onto the scene for Alabama a year ago as an instant impact addition, appearing in every game along the Crimson Tide's offensive line at a variety of different positions. Coming off that breakout season, VanDeMark now enters the 2025 campaign among the top options up front for the Crimson Tide once again, and is expected to make a significant impact this fall, similar to a year ago. Here is a look at everything you need to know about Alabama offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark entering the 2025 season. Geno VanDeMark player information Geno VanDeMark career stats An experienced player at the collegiate level, VanDeMark will be entering his fifth season of college football in 2025, three of which came at Michigan State from 2021-23. Across his four previous seasons between Michigan State and Alabama, VanDeMark has appeared in 31 career games, 10 of which he has started. Geno VanDeMark 2024 stats The 2024 season was VanDeMark's first at Alabama, with the offensive lineman appearing in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. VanDeMark started two games a year ago, one at left-and-right guard. Geno VanDeMark recruiting ranking Coming out of high school, VanDeMark was considered as the nation's No. 428 overall prospect in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, as well as the No. 29 interior offensive lineman nationally that cycle. Rated as a three-star prospect, VanDeMark was also considered the No. 8 player in the state of New Jersey that cycle in which he attended St. Joseph Regional High School. Prior to Alabama, VanDeMark was considered as the No. 1,394 overall player in the transfer portal last offseason, per 247Sports, as well as the No. 106 interior offensive lineman. VanDeMark, rated as a three-star prospect as a transfer, also committed to Alabama in May 2024. Geno VanDeMark 2025 season outlook Simply put, VanDeMark will be one of Alabama's most important offensive linemen during the 2025 season. Competing for the starting left guard spot with transfer addition Kam Dewberry, VanDeMark could potentially enter the fall as a starter, but even if that were not to happen, the former Michigan State transfer will still play a major role as a piece that could rotate in-and-out when needed. This could come at left guard, as well as other spots such as right guard and center. However, don't be surprised if VanDeMark begins the season as the starting left guard either, and for the redshirt senior to help strengthen what should be a very good Alabama offensive line. Geno VanDeMark 2025 season prediction Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
10 funniest, saddest and most unhinged Reddit college football fan expectations
College football is back, and that means it's time for all of us to be hurt again. Every year, fans enter the season with high expectations, and most of the time, they find themselves disappointed. But those expectations aren't always sky-high. Some of us out here are simply asking for the bare minimum. While the Georgias and Ohio States of the world have a national championship-or-bust mentality every year, most fanbases just want a product that doesn't entirely embarrass them. Unfortunately, that's often too much to ask. In a recent thread posted on Reddit, college football fans were asked for their season-long expectations for their teams, and answers ranged from delusional to pathetically low. Here are some of the funniest season-long expectations, according to r/CFB. 1. This Florida State fan is too embarrassed to say FSU is coming off a stunningly bad 2-10 season that featured just one FBS win, a five-point victory over Cal. Florida State hopes to bounce back this fall, but the fanbase is obviously pretty wary. 2. Washington State fan preaches to the choir The Cougs lost coach Jake Dickert, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer after an 11-win season last fall. But frankly, the vast majority of college football fanbases probably share this sentiment. 3. A Virginia Tech fan down bad Hey, Hokies, if it makes you feel better: Your 2025 season expectations are (roughly) the same as Alabama's! 4. Mississippi State fan just wants to get back to .500 You know, a late-December trip to Memphis doesn't sound all that bad, does it? 5. This Florida fan would take either extreme Billy Napier shored up his position with a late run last season, but this Gators fan would be happy to see either a CFP-caliber team or Napier's head on the chopping block. Real. 6. LSU fan thinks it's put up or shut up time for Brian Kelly Given the fact that his three predecessors each won national titles, the clock is ticking in Year 4 for Brian Kelly, and even a "birth" in the playoff may not be enough to satisfy this Tigers fan. 7. Wisconsin fan shooting for the moon What has Luke Fickell done to this once-proud fanbase? 8. Penn State fan thinks it's time for a title game appearance The Nittany Lions are a clear national championship contender entering the season, and it seems anything short of at least reaching the CFP title game would be a disappointment for a program that has struggled to get over the hump. 9. Iowa fan flying too close to the Sun Look, to be fair, South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski gives Iowa potentially its best quarterback in years, so this one isn't entirely irrational. But ask yourself, dear reader, are you willing to bank on a successful offense on a team coached by Kirk Ferentz? 10. Michigan still lives rent-free in this Ohio State fan's head after a national title Ohio State won its first national title under Ryan Day, but the Michigan loss still clearly bothers this fan quite a bit. Bonus Round: UMass! It's tough to be a Minuteman.
