Alabama had everything that Malik Benson was looking for

For the second week in a row, Alabama has landed a sought-after player from the junior college ranks. After getting Justin Jefferson in the fold a week ago today, the Crimson Tide just earned a commitment from elite 2023 wideout Malik Benson.

The Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College product committed to Alabama on Tuesday over Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and Tennessee. He spoke with BamaOn3 about why the program came out on top for him, comparison to Jameson Williams, what he wants to accomplish in Tuscaloosa, and more.

“The biggest thing to me was a winning program,” Benson said. “Every year, they are going to put themselves in the spot to play for the national championship. As a junior college kid, I feel like my path has been long. Worked for everything and I still have a lot of work, too. In my junior year at Bama, I have the opportunity to go in there and make a name for myself.”

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In recent years, Alabama has made a strong case for holding the moniker, “Wide Receiver University.” After all, they’ve sent five wideouts to the first round in the past three NFL Drafts alone, the most recent one being Williams.

“Seeing what they’ve done with receivers, too, is a big thing,” Benson said. “I’m trying to win a championship. I’m trying to go somewhere that has a history of putting receivers in the first round. Coach Saban, just sitting in his office and seeing all his rings, I’m like, ‘Man, I can be a part of that.'”

Of course, it’s not a surprise to hear that Saban played a role in Benson’s commitment to the Crimson Tide today.

“Coach Saban, his legacy alone. He’s the greatest college football coach of all time,” Benson said. “Why not go and be coached by him? That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Alabama’s competitiveness appealed to Malik Benson

Circling back to Williams, Benson told us that wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins compared his skill set to the current Detroit Lion. Even though Williams started his college career at Ohio State, Benson believes he could take a similar path when it’s all said and done.

“In the sense, it is kind of the same,” Benson said. “He went to Ohio State and didn’t get his opportunity. I came out of JUCO, so I had to prove myself. In our third year, it’s an opportunity to be at Alabama. I saw what he did in his one year being there. Every school I’ve been to, my comparison is him.”

With receivers like Williams, DeVonta Smith, and others having passed through Alabama, Benson knows there will be competition in the position room. He is also well-aware of the fact that he’ll be going up against the best cornerbacks and linebackers in the country every day in practice.

That doesn’t faze Benson, however. Instead, he is welcoming the challenge of earning his spot, not being handed it.

“That’s the thing that I love: Nothing is going to be given to me,” Benson said. “Every other school was like, ‘We’ve got a spot for you.’ Bama said that only I can control if I’m on the field or off the field. It’s like how Hutch is; nothing is going to be given to you and you’ve got to work.”

Benson’s family approved of their trip to Alabama

From June 15-17, Benson was the only official visitor on Alabama’s campus. His mother, stepdad, and four younger siblings were not only with him on this trip, but every official visit that he took over the past few weeks.

It’s safe to say that their time with the Crimson Tide stood out from the rest.

“Seeing my mom and my family and how happy they were, I’ve never seen them that happy,” Benson said. “It’s crazy because every visit they’ve been on, they’re excited and happy. But the sparkles in everyone’s eyes walking around Alabama’s campus meant a lot to me. Even my younger siblings were just amazed to see everything.”

When Benson gets on campus in January, he will have a whiteboard that reads “16 months” in anticipation of the NFL Draft in April 2024. His goal is to enjoy a productive junior season at Alabama and then continue the tradition of receivers from the school being drafted in the first round.

Malik Benson wants to leave an impactful legacy both on and off the football field.

“I just want to help do everything I can to lead my team to a national championship,” Benson said. “I want to be that guy. Want to be the best receiver in the nation. I feel like I’m very capable of doing that. But my biggest thing is winning a national championship and being a part of that legacy of receivers that came through. Be at the top.

“Put my name out there so everyone knows what Malik Benson is about on and off the field,” Benson added. “How he’s a good person. Also, how he’s a leader on the football field.”