Post-OSU Update: LeCharles Bentley was selected with the 44th pick (2nd-round) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Bentley started all four years of his NFL career, making two Pro Bowls. He signed with the Browns before the 2006 season but suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire season. His knee injury (which almost forced his leg to be amputated due to an infection) created an acrimonious relationship with the Browns that lead to Bentley suing the team. He never played in the NFL again. In 2021, Bentley was named Senior Advisor of Player Performance and Development for the NFL. He also owns an offensive line development company.. (updated: Aug. 2022)

Major: Human Development and Family Science (2001), Undeclared (1999-00)

Weight: 300 (2001), 290 (1999-00), 265 (1998)

2001 Media Guide: All-America and Outland Trophy candidate … veteran lineman who is for all practical purposes in his third year as a starter … started the final seven games of 1999 (six at guard and one at tackle) and all 12 games last year at center and is a veteran of 36 consecutive games … earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors behind Minnesota All-America center Ben Hamilton last year … tough, hard-nosed competitor who played through a painful back injury last year, logging 309 minutes of playing time … selected by the OSU coaching staff as the Offensive Lineman of the Year each of the past two seasons … intelligent, hard-working player who puts it all on the line every game … partially dislocated kneecap during spring practice, but was back in time to play in the Spring Game.

2000: Named Offensive Lineman of the Game following the Illinois, Iowa and Penn State games … Second-Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media … co-Offensive Lineman of the Year.

2000 Media Guide: Ohio State entered last season with Kurt Murphy, at the time a veteran of 19 consecutive starts, listed as the starting center on the two-deep. A young LeCharles Bentley was, for the most part, expected to watch and learn from Murphy, a senior who ended his career with 44 games played. But as head coach John Cooper put it, Bentley “is just too talented to keep off of the field.” Room had to be made for the massive but agile Cleveland product. Six games into the season he was named the starting left offensive guard. An intelligent player that continually benefits from his strong work ethic in the weight room, Bentley returns to his natural position of center this year and has a solid hold on the starting job entering the season. Even at 6-2, 290 pounds, he’s athletic enough to play on the kickoff coverage team and his versatility could prove invaluable as the season wears on. He’s been described as explosive off the line. Ohio State coaches say he has the potential to develop into one of the top offensive lineman in the Big Ten. “Our center does quite a bit, including making the defensive calls. He’s picked that up very well,” George Belu, offensive line coach said. “He’s very strong. He’s picked up the position really good. It’s a heck of a lot different than any other position on the line. I like what I see in LeCharles. I like his toughness and his work ethic.” He is one of the strongest offensive lineman on the team and has been singled out as someone that needs to develop into a leader.

1999: Played in all 12 games and started the last seven – six at left guard and one at right tackle … named Ohio State’s Offensive Lineman of the Year … joined Steve Bellisari and Jamar Martin as the only sophomores to start on offense for the Buckeyes … playing time doubled from the beginning to the end of the season … averaged 13.8 minutes per game in the first six games of the season and 21 minutes per game in the last six contests of the year … played a season-high 27 minutes in the season finale against Michigan … the only Ohio State player to see time at center, guard and tackle.

1999 Media Guide: Coaches like what they see in LeCharles Bentley, the only true freshman offensive lineman who was not redshirted during the 1998 season. He provides the staff with a massive, flexible lineman who, said line coach Mike Jacobs, “could press for starting duties at a number of positions this fall.” He was a backup left tackle last season and this past spring practiced as the backup center. He added 25 pounds of muscle to his 6-3 frame in the past year.

1998: LeCharles worked his way up the depth chart where he stayed all season as the backup to Tyson Walter at left tackle. Played all 12 games as a backup left tackle, but also as a member of the kickoff coverage special teams unit. Logged a total of 64 minutes including 14 minutes against Michigan State and 10 minutes against both Minnesota and Indiana.

High School:  An all-state offensive tackle who joins a long line of St. Ignatius linemen who have played for the Buckeyes … could play any of the three offensive line positions for the Buckeyes … a three-year starter for one of the state’s perennial powers … considered very strong and very explosive … held his own twice in games against OSU recruit Kenny Peterson, considered the state’s No. 1 lineman, and got the attention of the Ohio State staff.

Personal: Is the son of Verneda Bentley and Charles Milton … a fan of the show “South Park” … born July 11, 1979.