Keeanu Benton
Keeanu Benton (born July 17, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).[1] Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 309 pounds (140 kg), Benton played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he earned All-Big Ten honors in 2021 and 2022, including third-team recognition by the coaches in his senior year.[2][3] He was selected by the Steelers in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft, marking the team's first pick in that draft after trading down from an earlier position.[1] As of November 19, 2025, in his three NFL seasons, Benton has appeared in 45 regular-season games with 42 starts, accumulating 104 total tackles (47 solo), 6.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception.[1] His rookie year in 2023 featured his first career sack against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, while in the 2025 season through 11 games, he has recorded 4.5 sacks and 15 solo tackles.[4]Early life and high school
Upbringing and family
Keeanu Benton was born on July 17, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois.[5] His family relocated from Chicago's South Side to Janesville, Wisconsin, around 2012, when Benton was in sixth grade, seeking better opportunities for the children.[5] This move marked the beginning of his formative years in Janesville, where he spent the majority of his youth and developed strong ties to the local community.[5] Benton was raised by his mother, La’Tasha Benton, and stepfather, Troy Rodriguez, who provided a supportive household emphasizing education and personal growth.[5] La’Tasha, originally from Chicago, prioritized academic achievement for her children, instilling values of discipline and hard work from an early age; Benton maintained a 3.7 GPA in high school.[5] Troy Rodriguez served as a key father figure, offering guidance on life decisions and later influencing Benton's athletic path, while the family included his two siblings who shared in the relocation and community involvement in Janesville.[5] In his early youth, Benton faced the challenges of adapting to a new environment after the move from urban Chicago to the smaller town of Janesville, but he quickly integrated through local youth programs and family-oriented activities.[5] The relocation fostered a sense of community belonging, with the Bentons engaging in neighborhood ties that supported their emphasis on education and collective family progress.[6] Prior to organized sports, Benton's interests centered on schoolwork and family life, reflecting his parents' focus on holistic development over early specialization.[5]High school career
Keeanu Benton attended Joseph A. Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he played as a defensive tackle on the football team.[4][3] Throughout his high school career, Benton developed into a dominant force on the defensive line, leveraging his size and athleticism—standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing around 290 pounds—to disrupt opposing offenses. His progression was marked by consistent improvement, particularly in his senior year of 2018, when he recorded 75 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery, earning recognition as The Gazette's all-area football player of the year despite opponents frequently scheming away from his side of the field.[7][4][3] Benton's wrestling background, where he finished as a two-time state runner-up at heavyweight, further enhanced his technique and strength in the trenches.[8] In recruitment, Benton, a three-star prospect, committed to the University of Wisconsin in May 2018, choosing to stay in-state over scholarship offers from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, and Wyoming.[9][10] His decision was influenced by family support and a desire to represent his home state.[11]College career
University of Wisconsin
Keeanu Benton enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in July 2019 as a true freshman defensive lineman, forgoing a redshirt season after earning significant playing time during his debut year.[12][13] His recruitment from Janesville Craig High School in Wisconsin culminated in a commitment to the Badgers, where he joined as a highly regarded local prospect.[14] In 2020, Benton's sophomore season was limited to seven games due to the Big Ten Conference's COVID-19-shortened schedule, during which he continued to develop as a nose tackle while adapting to the disruptions caused by the pandemic.[3][15] Benton's junior year in 2021 marked a breakout campaign, where he earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors from the coaches and honorable mention from the media for his contributions on the defensive line.[3][16] As a senior in 2022, he received All-Big Ten Third Team recognition from the coaches and entered the season with preseason Fourth-Team All-America honors from Phil Steele, reflecting his growing prominence.[3] During this final year, Benton assumed a key leadership role on the defensive line, guiding younger players and emphasizing team cohesion in the trenches.[17][18] Over his four-year career at Wisconsin from 2019 to 2022, Benton appeared in 45 games and made 36 starts, primarily at nose tackle before transitioning to defensive tackle in his final season.[19] His development as a pass rusher was particularly notable, with offseason training focused on hand placement, leverage, and explosive techniques that enhanced his ability to disrupt quarterbacks from the interior.[20][21]College statistics
Keeanu Benton's defensive statistics during his college career at the University of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2022 are detailed in the following table. These figures reflect his contributions as a nose tackle and defensive tackle in the Badgers' 3-4 defensive alignment.[2]| Year | Class | Games Played | Solo Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Total Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Pass Deflections | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FR | 13 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | SO | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | JR | 13 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | SR | 12 | 20 | 15 | 35 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 45 | 43 | 37 | 80 | 19.0 | 9.0 | 4 | 1 | 2 |