As the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine takes place over the next week in Indianapolis, eight former Michigan standouts will participate in the event, attempting to showcase their skills, attributes and abilities to scouts and coaches ahead of April's NFL Draft. A schedule of the event can be found here.
We preview what each former Wolverine invited brings to the Combine, looking back at their Michigan careers, at current draft projections and what to watch from them at the Combine.
Previously: Edge Derrick Moore, Edge/Linebacker Jaishawn Barham
Next up in our series is defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny
Career at Michigan
Hailing from Detroit and emerging as a four-star prospect out of Oak Park High School, Benny flipped from Michigan State to Michigan in the 2021 recruiting class. He made three tackles in three games in a redshirt 2021 season, then began to climb the depth chart in 2022. That fall, he played 164 defensive snaps in 13 games, finishing with 13 tackles and seven quarterback pressures.
Then, in 2023, he emerged in Michigan's renowned defensive line rotation en route to a national title. He played 14 of 15 games that season, leaving the Rose Bowl with a leg injury and missing the national title game, and finished the season wth 27 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He had a forced fumble and TFL in a top-10 win at Penn State, and finished the season with 244 defensive snaps played.
After missing most of the 2024 offseason recovering from his injury, Benny put together a very strong 2024 season. He played 327 snaps across 11 games, finishing the year with 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, 14 run stops and 20 quarterback pressures. He didn't miss a tackle, and ranked seventh in PFF's run-stop rate and run defense grade.
Though likely to be drafted in 2025, Benny returned for a fifth season in Ann Arbor, and first as a full-time starter. He started all 13 games for the Wolverines, totaling 35 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery. He remained strong against the run, ranking ninth out of 237 power-conference defensive tackles in PFF's run-defense grade, and was named third-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media.
Latest projections
Benny is ranked No. 137 overall in the NFL Mock Draft database, and No. 14 among defensive tackles.
Benny is not projected to be selected in Pro Football Focus's three-round mock draft.
Benny came in at No. 100 in The Athletic's top-100 prospects ranking, and ninth among defensive tackles.
Benny is No. 80 in CBS Sports' top 330 prospects, and the No. 9 defensive tackle.
What scouts will like
Benny played a lot of snaps in his time at Michigan, totaling 1,209 snaps on defense despite only one season as a primary starter. In his time with the Wolverines, he showed prowess as an above-average pass-rusher for his position (52 pressures on 699 pass-rushing snaps) and was excellent as a run-stopper in both 2024 and 2025.
He was generally an excellent tackler, with just five missed tackles compared to 103 career tackles (though four of those misses came in 2025). Though it didn't always show in his production, his ability to shed blocks often drew praise from teammates and coaches. His demeanor at Michigan was consistently upbeat and enthusiastic, regardless of his role, and he shined in multiple NFL-style defenses. He played in a number of high-profile games, and on multiple occasions delivered game-altering plays.
Questions to answer
Benny arguably didn't have the season he or Michigan expected with an expanded role in 2025. That now has him fighting ageism (he turns 24 in May) in the evaluation process without glowing film to make up for it.
Though not expected to be a "winner" in the combine drills, Benny can show he still has room to grow by showcasing good strength and quickness for his position, as his pass-rushing get-off will intrigue scouts at the 3-tech role. He can also impress coaches and scouts in interviews with good answers about his five years in NFL-style defensive schemes.