Florida State transfer receiver Malik Benson committed to Oregon earlier this week after previously releasing a top three including the Ducks, Tennessee and Kansas State.
Former FSU/Alabama wide receiver Malik Benson has committed to Oregon, he tells ESPN. Benson has an extra year thanks to the recent JUCO ruling in the wake of the Diego Pavia eligibility decision. He had 473 receiving yards and 2 TDs the past two years. pic.twitter.com/rVwT4nsuGS
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2025
Tennessee was originally linked to Benson in the portal with On3’s Pete Nakos reporting that the 6-foot-1 receiver planned on visiting Tennessee football. But the Vols interest in Benson appeared limited and they never ended up hosting him on a visit.
Benson caught 25 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown last season for the Seminoles. With quarterback DJ Uiagalelei leading the way, Florida State’s passing attack was abysmal last season.
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Despite his middling numbers, Benson finished second on the Seminoles in both catches and receiving yards during the 2024 season. His best game of the season came against Memphis when he caught five passes for 99 yards.
According to PFF, Benson earned a 59.7 grade in 437 snaps during the 2024 season. That grade would have ranked fifth amongst Tennessee’s receivers last season.
Still, Tennessee is is need of receivers in the transfer portal after losing five of them, mostly reserves, to the transfer portal last month. The Vols have just three returning scholarship receivers for the 2025 season in Chris Brazzell, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley.
Tennessee also has three incoming freshmen receivers and redshirt freshman Alabama receiver Amari Jefferson coming in for next season. Either way, unless Tennessee adds more bodies in the portal then they’ll be dependent on a number of unproved receives next season.
