Post-OSU Update: Michael Bennett was a sixth round pick (180th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft by Jacksonville. He played 16 NFL regular season games over three years with the Jags and Falcons, totaling 16 tackles and 0.5 sacks. (updated: Nov. 2023)

Major: Family Resource Management (2014), Consumer and Family Financial Services (2013), Biology (2012)

Weight: 288 (2014), 285 (2013), 277 (2012), 280 (2011)

2014 Media Guide: Michael Bennett is an outstanding young man, a force as an interior defensive lineman and a thoughtful, team-leader off the field … the son of parents who each graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Bennett is a true senior who has played in 34 games and has started 14 times, a figure that is second-most among Ohio State defenders … his 70 career tackles include 17.5 tackles-for-loss, totaling 90 yards … he also has a team-high 11 quarterback sacks entering the 2014 season.

2013: Bennett had the most experience along the defensive line entering the season and he played as if he did, performing like a leader, starting 13 games and amassing career highs in tackles (44) tackles-for-loss and yards (11.5 for 62) and quarterback sacks (7.5) … he ranked fourth in the Big Ten Conference in sacks and 15th in TFLs … in conference-only games, he ranked second in the league in sacks (6.5) and seventh in TFLs (9.5) … he earned second-team all-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and media … he established a career-best with six tackles at Illinois and had personal bests of three TFLs and two sacks vs. Indiana … had five stops in the win at Michigan.

2013 Media Guide: Michael Bennett is not only a key returnee along the defensive line, which lost all four of its 2012 starters, but he is expected to be a big play-maker … the most experienced player on the defensive line, Bennett is a defensive tackle who has played in 21 games so far with one start; that coming in the season finale last year when team MVP John Simon couldn’t play because of a knee issue … Bennett was in on a career-high 42 plays from the line of scrimmage that day, and he was in on two tackles in the 26-21 win to cap a 12-0 season … he missed the first four games of the season, but he played in the final eight games and ended up making 11 tackles … he has 28 career tackles, including six tackles-for-loss (-28 yards) with four of those quarterback sacks … his quarterback sack total trails only Ryan Shazier’s eight sacks among returning Buckeyes.

2012 Media Guide: Michael played in all 13 games in 2011 as a true freshman and then had a very productive spring campaign … is being viewed by coaches as a possible top-four (starter) defensive lineman in the program.

2011: Made 17 tackles in 2011, including 13 solos, from the defensive tackle position … in limited playing time he finished tied for third on the team in tackles-for-loss with five … his 27 TFL yards trailed only John Simon’s 58 … he had two TFLs, for minus-10 yards, among his season-high five tackles at Nebraska … he tied for second on the team with three quarterback sacks (vs. Akron, Nebraska and Indiana), a figure that trailed only Simon’s seven.

2011 Media Guide: Talented lineman who has excelled on both sides of the ball.

High School: First team Division I all-Ohio, all-southwest Ohio … two-time GWOC conference player of year … team captain … helped Coach Ron Ullery’s Elks post a 9-3 record and reach the regional semifinals … broke the school record for knockdowns by 150 in his career … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … 2011 Team USA vs. The World Game … USA Today all-USA … also a track and field letterman, making the state quarterfinals in shot put and discus.

Personal: Son of Mike and Connie Bennett.