D.J. Bennett

Position:
Defensive Lineman
Height:
6-5
Weight:
250
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
White Springs, Fla.
High School:
Columbia H.S.
Previous School:
Louisburg College

CAREER

Concluded two-year career at Central Michigan by seeing action in 13 career games with three starts at defensive end … Made nine tackles (five solo) with two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry in career.

2025

As a senior defensive lineman, saw action in 12 games with three starts at defensive end … Listed as both a starter and backup on the depth chart at defensive end … Started each of the first three games on the year … Finished the year with nine tackles (five solo), one quarterback hurry and two pass breakups … Made one tackle at Buffalo (11/12) … Registered a quarterback hurry vs. Massachusetts (10/25) … Finished with two tackles (two solo) at Bowling Green (10/18) … Made a career-high three tackles (one solo) at Akron (10/4) … Registered one tackle vs. Eastern Michigan (9/27) … Finished with one solo tackle in start at Pittsburgh (9/6) … In the season opener and first career start at San Jose State (8/29), finished with one tackle (one solo) and a career-high two pass breakups …

2024

As a junior, defensive lineman, saw action in one game … saw first career action vs. Ohio (10/12) … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2024 as a junior.

2022-24 AT LOUISBURG COLLEGE

As a sophomore, saw action in eight games at defensive end for the Hurricanes … Academic All-America selection … Named to the Region 10 All-Academic team … Finished with 7.5 sacks for 63 yards and 10.0 tackles on the year … Finished with one sack for 10 yards vs. Nassau Community College (Nov. 4) … Finished with 2.0 sacks for 32 yards vs. Myrtle Beach Collegiate (Oct. 28) … Made two tackles vs. Monroe College (Oct. 14) … Made 3.0 tackles and 2.0 sacks for 17 yards vs. Jireh Prep (Sept. 24).

2021-22 AT HENDERSON STATE

Played one season at Henderson State … Helped the Reddies to a 9-2 overall record.

HIGH SCHOOL

A June 2021 graduate of Columbia High School, where he played two years of varsity football for head coach Brian Allen … Played both defensive end and tight end for the Tigers … Made 23 total tackles (six solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble on defense and caubht one pass for four yards with a touchdown as a tight end during his senior season … made three tackles on defense, caught four passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns as a junior … Also played basketball.

PERSONAL

Born Daniel Bennett on June 13, 2003 … Son of Leon and Larita McCloud … Nickname is D.J. … Committed to Central Michigan on February 6, 2024 … Selected Central Michigan over offers from Austin Peay, Hampton, North Carolina Central, and UT-Martin.