Bio Blast: Meet four-star defensive lineman Benny Patterson

The Michigan Wolverines officially signed four-star Newburgh, Indiana defensive tackle Benny Patterson on national signing day.

Here is everything you need to know about the prospect that On3 ranks as the 77th-overall player in the 2025 class.

The Skinny

Height: 6-3
Weight: 240 pounds
Senior Stats: 70 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 2 fumbles recovered, 1 forced fumble
Industry Ranking: No. 298 overall, No. 25 defensive lineman, No. 7 in the state of Indiana
Interesting Facts: On3 is by far the highest on Patterson among all of the major recruiting services, ranking him No. 77 overall in the country and the 7th-rated defensive lineman. All other services, whether it be ESPN, 247 Sports and Rivals, have him as an unranked three-star.

Recruitment

Michigan was able to flip Patterson away from a school in Ohio, but not *that* school in Ohio. Patterson was committed to Cincinnati before an official visit helped the Wolverines secure a flip of one of the most underrated players in the class, at least if you believe the On3 rankings. His other offers included USC, LSU, Penn State, among others.

They Said It

“We always talked about ‘you’re going to know when you know.’ We went on several visits, and you kind of get the used car salesman pitch on every visit, where they tell you why they are the best. You hear it all. But from the first call he received from Coach Lou (Esposito) to offer him an opportunity to play at Michigan to the commitment, every conversation was first class. It was genuine. You didn’t feel like you were being sold a dream. Nothing was promised. They just talked about opportunity. From the recruiting staff to the head coach, everybody seemed like they had their stuff together. They had a plan and knew what they wanted from him. I thought that was unique.”

– Benny Patterson Jr. on his son’s commitment to Michigan

Benny Patterson Scouting Report

“Benny Patterson has one of the most enjoyable senior tapes of any defensive prospect in the 2025 cycle. He is a total game wrecker. At 6-foot-2, 245+pounds with FREAKY length, Patterson has immense scheme flexibility. His power and movement skills allow him to play standing up off the edge all the way to a 3-technique with his hand in the dirt. Patterson looks to have gained some mass in his lower half and even stronger at the point of attack. We knew he always had burst and vertical disruption. But in the senior film, he looks like he has become and a dominant run stopper as well showing much more pop in his pads and the ability to stack and shed blockers more confidently.

It will be curious to see how Patterson’s body develops at the next level being that his frame should be able to add mass without hindering his athleticism. So we believe that he could sit comfortably in the 275-280 pound range if he wanted to at the next level, but he could just as easily sit at 260+ and become a menace off the edge as well. His versatility combined with his burst and raw power make him a special prospect up front. And yes, with a late May birthday, he’s one of the younger defensive line prospects in the 2025 cycle.” — On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire