A three-time Big Ten champion and national champion at Michigan, Rayshaun Benny finally became a full-time starter as a graduate student before the Ravens took him in round seven.
Rayshaun Benny waited four seasons behind Michigan's deep defensive line rotation before finally stepping into a starting role in 2025. The Detroit native's patience paid off with a seventh-round selection by the Ravens, who already know him well through his ties to head coach Jesse Minter and defensive line coach Lou Esposito.
Path to the league
Benny was a four-star recruit out of Oak Park High School in Michigan, ranked the sixth-best player in the state in the 2021 class. He spent five seasons with the Wolverines, serving mostly as a reserve before becoming a full-time starter as a graduate student in 2025. Baltimore selected him in the seventh round, 250th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Benny won three Big Ten championships and a national title during his time in Ann Arbor, including Michigan's 2023 national championship season. He broke his ankle in the 2024 Rose Bowl and served as an honorary captain while recovering, before returning to a full-time role and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in his final season.
2025 season recap
Starting all 13 games in his graduate season, Benny recorded 35 tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack and a half, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition. He carries a built-in familiarity with Baltimore's staff, having played under Ravens head coach Jesse Minter when Minter was Michigan's defensive coordinator.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Rayshaun Benny
- ESPN: Rayshaun Benny
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Michigan
- Hometown
- Detroit, MI, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
