Keeanu Benton

Keeanu Benton
Benton with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025
No. 95 – Pittsburgh Steelers
PositionNose tackle
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2001-07-17) July 17, 2001
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight309 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High schoolJoseph A. Craig (Janesville, Wisconsin)
CollegeWisconsin (2019–2022)
NFL draft2023: 2nd round, 49th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles123
Sacks7.5
Forced fumbles3
Fumble recoveries1
Pass deflections9
Interceptions1
Stats at Pro Football Reference 

Keeanu Kyrie Benton (born July 17, 2001) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Early life

Benton grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin and attended Joseph A. Craig High School, where he competed in football and wrestling.[1] As a senior, he made 75 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.[2] Benton committed to play college football at Wisconsin over an offer from Iowa.[3]

College career

Benton played college football at Wisconsin from 2019 to 2022.[4] He played in 13 games and made six starts at nose tackle as a freshman and finished the season with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.[5][6] He played in seven games and made seven starts at nose tackle during his sophomore season.[7] He was named second team All-Big Ten Conference as a junior after making 25 tackles with five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.[8] He was named Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2022.[9]

Statistics

Season Team GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Cmb Solo Ast Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FF FR
2019 Wisconsin 8 12 8 4 2.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 Wisconsin 7 9 5 4 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0
2021 Wisconsin 12 24 11 13 2.5 0 0 0.0 0 2 0 2
2022 Wisconsin 12 36 20 16 4.5 0 0 0.0 0 2 0 0
Career 39 81 44 37 9.0 0 0 0 1 4 2 2

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in
(1.92 m)		 309 lb
(140 kg)		 33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 5.08 s 1.79 s 2.95 s 4.65 s 7.34 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Benton was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[12] On June 23, 2023, Benton signed a four-year rookie contract with the Steelers.[13] As a rookie, Benton appeared in 17 games and started nine. He finished with one sack, 36 total tackles (16 solo), two passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[14]

On December 8, 2024, Benton recorded his first NFL interception, off Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston in a 27–14 Steelers win.[15]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD
2023 PIT 17 9 36 16 20 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
2024 PIT 17 14 36 16 20 1.0 2 1 11 11.0 11 0 6 0 0 1 0 0
2025 PIT 17 17 51 25 26 5.5 6 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Career 51 40 123 57 66 7.5 9 1 11 11.0 11 0 9 3 0 1 0 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD
2023 PIT 1 0 5 1 4 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024 PIT 1 1 4 2 2 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025 PIT 1 1 4 1 3 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Career 3 2 13 4 9 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Barry, John (January 27, 2020). "Craig graduate Keeanu Benton bucked the odds and played key role as a true freshman at Wisconsin". Janesville Gazette. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Temple, Jesse (April 8, 2019). "Imposing, athletic and eager: Why DT Keeanu Benton could see the field at Wisconsin sooner rather than later". The Athletic. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Galloway, Jason (May 12, 2018). "Janesville Craig defensive tackle Keeanu Benton reportedly commits to Badgers". APNews.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Keeanu Benton | Football". Wisconsin Badgers.
  5. ^ Galloway, Jason (August 5, 2019). "Badgers nose tackle Keeanu Benton working to make himself game ready as true freshman". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Vantress, David (August 6, 2021). "Janesville Craig grad Keeanu Benton ready to dominate for Wisconsin Badgers". The Janesville Gazette. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Potrykus, Jeff (December 14, 2021). "Badgers nose tackle Keeanu Benton likely to return in 2022". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "Keeanu Benton vital to Wisconsin defensive line in final season". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 27, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Big Ten Conference Unveils Football All-Conference Teams for Defense, Special Teams and Select Individual Honors". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "Keeanu Benton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Keeanu Benton College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Varley, Teresa (April 28, 2023). "Steelers select Keeanu Benton in the second round". Steelers.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  13. ^ La Rose, Adam (June 23, 2023). "Steelers Sign Round 2 DT Keeanu Benton". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Keeanu Benton 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Radcliffe, J. R. (December 9, 2024). "Wisconsinite Keeanu Benton, at 6-4 and 309 pounds, had one of the highlight-reel plays of the week with interception for Steelers". Yahoo Sports.
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