JUCO WR Malik Benson Names Five Finalists
One of the top players in the country has narrowed his list down to five. And that includes the Oregon Ducks.
Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) star receiver Malik Benson announced his five finalists on Saturday. Benson is one of the top junior college players nationally in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is down to Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Georgia.
Currently Tennessee leads the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine by a narrow margin. LSU and Georgia are just behind the Vols however.
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His official visit to Oregon is set for May 20. It will be his first official visit.
On3’s Joseph Hastings caught up with Benson to go into detail on his five finalists. Here is what he told Hastings about Oregon.
“Coach Lanning, Coach [Junior] Adams, and even [Trent] Figg, I’ve built great relationships with them,” Benson said. “I talk with them a lot. I just have to go see them and stuff like that. Coach Adams and Coach [Kenny] Dillingham, they came to the spring game out there. It really meant something to me for them to come out and see me.”
He noted distance is not a big issue in his recruitment.
In 11 games as a freshman, Benson had 43 receptions for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 1,229 receiving yards are a Hutch C.C. single-season record.
On3 Scouting Summary:
Big-play receiver with elite athleticism who dominates at the junior college level. One of the more dynamic receiver prospects nationally in both junior college and high school. A threat to score any time he touches the ball. Has the long-speed to blow by defenders on vertical routes and pull away in the open field with an easy-long-striding gait. Also shows contact balance as a runner after the catch. The on-field burst is validated by an outstanding high school track profile. Posted a 10.44 second 100 meter mark (with several more below 10.6 seconds) as a high school senior. Broke Olympian Maurice Green’s state record in the 200 meters with a 21.38 second time. Also a standout in the long jump with a jump of over 25 feet. Has added some mass since high school and is currently listed at 6-foot-0.5, 190 pounds. Has long arms with a 6-foot-5 wing-span. Also shows the ability to make plays on the ball. Able to rise and win in contested catch situations. Extremely productive as a freshman at Hutchinson while playing in the most competitive junior college league nationally. Averaged over 150 receiving yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game in the last half of the season. Flashes the ability to create separation off the line of scrimmage but will need to continue honing his change of direction in routes. Will have less of a grace period to get up to speed in college than top high school receiver prospects given less remaining eligibility as a junior college prospect.
