Bennett emerged as a dominating drive blocker for the Tigers in 2006, as he paved the way for a rushing unit that ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 217.85 yards per game. He led the team with 97 knockdown blocks as a senior, as he became the first Clemson offensive lineman to make an Associated Press All-American team (third-team) since Jim Bundren was a third-team selection in 1997.

Bennett lettered three times in football at Paulding County High School. He earned All-Region honors as a senior and was an All-Paulding County pick in each of his final two seasons. Rivals.com labeled him a two-star prospect and rated him the 75th-best offensive guard in the country. He led his team to a 12-2 record and the state playoffs while serving as offensive team captain in 2001. He was voted Most Improved by the team in 2000.

Bennett enrolled at Clemson, choosing the Tigers over Alabama-Birmingham, Arkansas, East Carolina and Mississippi State. He redshirted and played on the scout team in 2002, but forced his way into the starting lineup in 2003. That year, he started seven games, including the team's first six at right guard, posting 45 knockdowns for the season.

The following season, Bennett started 10 of 11 contests at right guard. The offense struggled throughout the 2004 season, ranking 110th in the nation with an average of 295.64 yards per game in total offense. Bennett participated in 510 plays, coming up with 44 knockdowns as a sophomore.

In 2005, Bennett started eight of 12 games at his familiar right guard slot. He made 74.5 knockdowns with 13 intimidation blocks, helping the offense greatly improve from the previous season, as the Tigers averaged 384.58 yards per game.

Bennett was named the team's Most Improved during the 2006 weight-training program. He established an all-time team record for the Tigers in the power clean/push press with a 345-pound lift. His 500-pound bench press in February tied for seventh-best among Clemson linemen since 1984; equaling a mark that was first made by center Dustin Fry in that category. His 400-pound hang clean is third-best on the team, and among the top 10 in Clemson history for an offensive lineman.

Bennett's 1,775 total pounds lifted rank 10th-best on record among linemen and second- best among current Tigers. To further impress upon scouts attending Pro Day, he did 26 reps of 225 pounds, tied for the fourth best bench press on the team. His 375-pound power clean was best on the squad.

On the field, he garnered first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and Associated Press third-team All-American honors in 2006. Bennett led the team with 97 knockdowns and 20 intimidations while allowing only one quarterback sack in 822 plays. He led the way as the team ranked 15th nationally in total offense (410.92 ypg) and 12th in scoring (32.69 ppg).

In 47 games at Clemson, Bennett started 38 times. He participated in 2,192 plays for the Tigers, registering 261 knockdown blocks.

Positives: Has a thick upper body with smooth muscle tone, big bubble, thick thighs and calves … Has outstanding strength in the weight room and a devastating hand punch to shock and jolt (needs to show better consistency and more active hands, though) … Comes off the snap with good explosion to generate some pop, but is a liability on long runs (balance issues cause him to cross his feet) … More effective on short pulls, as he uses his punch to widen the rush lane … Adequate at sealing the three-technique, but must improve his knee bend … Keeps his feet moving upon contact when stationary at the line, swiveling his hips to control and wall off the defender … More effective absorbing the bull rush when he keeps his feet flat-footed … Very aggressive blocker who has the nasty nature needed to combat the physical defenders … Delivers a punishing hand jolt, keeping proper placement to ride his man wide once he locks on to the opponent … Does a good job of waiting for the action to come to him, shocking the opponent with a sudden punch … His leg drive allows him to move the defender out of the gap and works hard to clear out the middle working with the center on the double team … Alert to stunts and blitzes … Displays excellent lock-out ability, but needs to do it with more consistency … Quick to gain leverage in pass protection, as he is effective at sliding and facing up to defenders shooting the gaps.

Negatives: Has good frame thickness, but needs to add more bulk and lacks toned muscles (smooth skin) … While he must increase his bulk, he also needs to trim his mid-section, as the added girth causes him to lose balance and lack a strong base on the move … Shows poor hand placement, failing to shoot his hands with much pop on contact (weight room figures fail to translate to the football field … Gets too tall in his stance and is constantly getting cut down at his feet … Leaves his feet too often and runs with his head down moving off the line, failing to locate second-level defenders (also shows marginal knee bend when taking on linebackers at that level) … Has a strong punch, when he lands, but short arms quite a bit and struggles to gain separation … Even with his strong legs, he struggles to anchor vs. the bull rush … Lacks the balance and lateral agility to get out on the edge to handle the speed rushers … Does not always finish his blocks (falls off them) … Good incline blocker, but works better in the short area rather than moving into space … Has good pass protection promise, but can be exposed by the inside charge when he fails to keep his arms active vs. counter moves … Has an aggressive nature, but will get out of control at times (suspended for the 2005 Temple game after getting into a fight the previous week vs. North Carolina State) … Also suspended for the 2005 Florida State game for missing classes … Tends to get a little too high in his stance when protecting vs. the pass, which results in defenders being able to walk him back.

Compares To: TONY MOLL-Green Bay … While Bennett boasts great weight room strength, it fails to translate to the football field due to marginal hand placement and technique. He needs to add more bulk to prevent bull rushers from pushing him back into the pocket, but he is an effective pass protector when he sits back and lets the action come to him (will over-extend when he is late off the snap). He looks too top heavy on the move and tends to duck his head in the second level, losing sight of the linebackers. Since he has the ability to play both guard positions, he will get some action in a rotation earlier in his career, but needs to refine his mechanics if he hopes to wrest a starting position.

In 47 games at Clemson, Bennett started 38 times … He registered 261 knockdown blocks on 2,192 plays … An avid weight lifter, Bennett established an all-time team record in the power clean push press (345 pounds) … His 500-pound bench press in February 2006 tied for seventh-best among Clemson linemen since 1984; tied with Dustin Fry for the team lead in that category … His 400-pound hang clean was third-best on the team, and among the top 10 in Clemson history for an offensive lineman … His 1,775 total pounds lifted rank 10th-best on record among linemen and second best among current Tigers … His 375-pound power clean is best on the team … Named most improved in the strength training room among offensive guards for the 2006 spring practice.

The NFL Draft Report and Associated Press All-American third-team selection, adding unanimous first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors … Started all year at right offensive guard, leading the team with 97 knockdown blocks, earning ACC Lineman of the Week honors vs. Georgia Tech … Graded 84.5 percent as he allowed only one of the team's fifteen quarterback sacks … The front wall was vastly improved in 2006, as their average of 1.15 sacks allowed per game led the ACC and ranked sixth nationally … The unit also reduced their sacks allowed from 23 in 2005 … Added 20 intimidation blocks on 595 plays … Helped the offense lead the conference and rank 15th in the nation with an average of 410.92 yards per game in total offense … The team also ranked 12th in the Division 1-A ranks and led the ACC in scoring, averaging 32.69 points per game, a vast improvement from the previous season, when the Tigers averaged 26.33 points (61st nationally).

Boston College … Registered a season-high twelve knockdown blocks in the one-point loss at Boston College, as he had an 87 percent grade in 77 plays … Cleared a rush lane used by tailback James Davis for a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime … Head to Head Competition-DT#93-Keith Willis-Four tackles (2 solos).

Florida State … Graded 86 percent and posted seven knockdowns, including one that upended linebacker Lawrence Timmons on Will Proctor's 19-yard scoring strike to Chansi Stuckey that ended an 80-yard, 10-play drive in the second quarter … Head to Head Competition-DT#

98-Alex Boston-One assisted tackle.

North Carolina … Collected nine knockdowns, including a season-high four intimidation blocks, helping the offense amass 324 yards on the ground, as Bennett delivered a pair of first quarter touchdown-resulting blocks, clearing a rush lane used by James Davis for the team's first touchdown on a 1-yard run and then took down linebacker Victor Worsley to spring C.J. Spiller for a 7-yard score that ended a 5-play, 53-yard drive … Head to Head Competition-DT#74-Kyndraus Guy-One assisted tackle.

Temple … Delivered seven knockdowns and graded a career-high 90 percent to help the team pick up 559 yards … Shoved linebacker Walter Mebane out of the way on Will Proctor's 6-yard scoring lob to Alex Pearson in the second quarter and then cleared a rush lane used by James Davis for a 64-yard scoring scamper … Head to Head Competition-DT#98-Andre Neblett-Three tackles (one solo).

Georgia Tech … Matched his career-high 90 percent blocking grade and posted ten knockdowns on 52 plays for an offense that generated 321 yards rushing … Blasted his way into the end zone with James Davis following on a first quarter 1-yard touchdown run and then took down linebacker Phil Wheeler to spring Davis for a 4-yard score in the fourth quarter that capped a 62-yard, 4-play drive … Head to Head Competition-DT#95-Darryl Richard-No tackles.

Virginia Tech … Earned Tiger Player of the Game honors after coming up with eight knock-downs, finishing with an 85 percent grade … Shoved defensive end Noland Burchette out of the way on a 6-yard scoring burst by James Davis that concluded an 11-play, 77-yard firsdt quarter drive … Head to Head Competition-DT#59-Barry Booker-Four assisted tackles.

North Carolina State … Graded 82 percent and delivered nine knockdowns as the Tigers gained 369 yards in a 20-14 decision … Upended defensive tackle Tank Tyler to keep the sack artist off QB Will Proctor on a 9-yard scoring strike to Tyler Grisham in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-DT#72-Tank Tyler-Three tackles (2 solos).

All-American honorable mention by Street & Smith's … Started eight of twelve contests he played in at right offensive guard … Ranked second on the team with 74 knockdowns and tied for second on the squad with 13 intimidation blocks, finishing with an 82.2 percent grade for blocking consistency … Helped the team rank second in the ACC with an average of 384.58 yards per game in total offense.

Graded a season-high 86 percent in the win over Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl when he played 48 snaps and had eight knockdown blocks … Paced the squad with eight knock-downs vs. Texas A&M when he graded 78 percent … Played a team-high 62 snaps and had a season-high 12.5 knockdown blocks in the win at Maryland … Led the Tigers in knock-downs vs. Boston College when he had nine, including four intimidation blocks, as he came off the bench in that game and played 44 plays … Added six knockdown blocks at Wake Forest when he returned to the starting lineup … Had his second-best game of the year in terms of coaches film grade at Georgia Tech when he graded 84 percent and had nine knockdown blocks … Came off the bench to grade 80 percent and collect nine knockdown blocks vs. Florida State.

Started ten of eleven games at right offensive guard, participating in 510 plays … Made 44 knockdowns for the season … Had an 82 percent grade in 53 snaps as a starter in the win at Miami … Graded 81 percent at Duke and added an 83 percent grade in the victory over South Carolina, as he collected six knockdown blocks in just 48 plays … Delivered a season-high nine knockdown blocks and an 84 percent grade vs. Virginia in 29 snaps as a starter … Had a season-high 88 percent grade in the overtime victory vs. Wake Forest and also had six knockdown blocks, tied for his second-highest total of the season … Led Clemson in the coach's film grade at Florida State with a 79 percent mark.

Started each of the first six games at right guard … Participated in 599 plays, posting 45 knockdowns with a 75.1 percent grade for blocking consistency … In the Florida State game, he helped the team to over 400 yards of total offense and a win over the Seminoles, as he had a season-high 12 knockdown blocks … Was on the field for 24 snaps vs. Tennessee in the Peach Bowl win, as he helped Chad Jasmin to a 130-yard rushing performance in that game … Did not start, but played 35 snaps at South Carolina … Graded a season-high 82 percent in each of the North Carolina State, Duke (team-best six knockdowns) and South Carolina.

Redshirted as a freshman.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 5.38 in the 40-yard dash … 500-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds 31 times … 530-pound squat … 400-pound hang clean … 345-pound push press … 375-pound power clean … 24-inch vertical jump … 7'7" broad jump … 34 1/4-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 18/26 Wonderlic score.

Attended Paulding County (Dallas, Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Lynn Rowe … Lettered three times in football, earning All-Region honors as a senior and was an All-Paulding County pick in each of his final two seasons … Rivals.com labeled him a two-star prospect and rated him the 75th-best offensive guard in the country … Led his team to a 12-2 record and the state playoffs while serving as offensive team captain in 2001 … Was voted Most Improved by the team in 2000.

Sports Management major, with a minor in Business … Born 1/19/84 … Resides in Dallas, Georgia.