Lucas: Benton and Beach ready for Camp Randall finale
November 25, 2022 | Football, Mike Lucas
Wisconsin seniors prepare for their final showdown in Madison
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – A year ago, Tyler Beach and Keeanu Benton each had a decision to make on their future. Beach made his choice first by electing to take part in the Senior Day ceremony prior to the opening kickoff against Nebraska in the final home game of the 2021 season at Camp Randall Stadium.
With his helmet in his left hand and roses in his right, Beach was introduced along with the other departing seniors, including fellow offensive linemen Logan Bruss, Josh Seltzner and Blake Smithback. Running out of the north tunnel, Beach was greeted on the field by family.
But was it a given that he was leaving? "I wasn't sure yet, I was still trying to decide," he said.
Nonetheless, he added, "I was kind of treating it like it was my last deal."
The Badgers hung on to beat the Cornhuskers for their seventh consecutive victory. But a disheartening loss the following Saturday at Minnesota prevented them from winning the Big Ten West. Given some time to ponder his options, Beach eventually opted to return for a sixth year at Wisconsin.
"I ended up making the call right before the bowl game," Beach said of the Dec. 30 Las Vegas Bowl. "It gave me another opportunity to play college football and not a lot of people get that. I felt with the ankle injury that I ended up having, and starting out slowly, I wanted a fresh start and I got that.
"I got to play a new position (left guard) this season and I played tight end, too.
"Having opportunities to play all over the line was an awesome experience."
A year ago, Benton went through the NFL draft evaluation process, which grants every prospect a thorough film study of their work and a recommendation. In December, there was speculation on what Benton would hear and do. In early January, he officially posted a tweet announcing his return.
On whether it was the right decision to come back for his senior year, the 6-4, 315-pound Benton, who has never redshirted as a Badger player, said, "Oh, yes, I wouldn't change my journey for anything. This has been a year for me to take a jump mentally and physically.
"Physically, it was knowing the playbook better – knowing what I'm doing. Mentally, it was knowing myself better. In not making that jump to the NFL, I'm still trying to figure myself out, what I want to do in my life and how I want to go about playing this football thing."
UW defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej likes to remind anyone moving on to the pro level, or even just contemplating it, that the NFL is not a developmental league, it's a business. And you want to make sure when you make the jump your game is complete and ready. Benton followed that advice.
Despite dealing with injuries, he has started all 11 games and recorded a career-high 30 tackles, punctuated by a personal best four quarterback sacks, the second most on the defense behind outside linebacker Nick Herbig who leads the Big Ten with 11, the second most in college football.
In his three previous seasons, 33 games, Benton had a total of 4.5 sacks. Remember, too, he's usually lining up as a nose tackle over the offensive center or guard. His path to the QB is far more restrictive because of the interior gridlock. And yet, he has generated consistent pressure up the middle.
In addition, he has turned himself into a four-quarter player by increasing his work capacity.
All of this with limited practice reps while often playing at less than 100 percent from week to week. Would this have been possible as a freshman? "Probably not," Benton said. "I just wasn't as mentally tough as I am now. As a freshman, it's easier to say, 'I'm hurting, I don't want to play …"'
But now if he's hurting – making it painful just to run – Benton stressed, "As a senior, I don't have time to waste. Even if I'm hurting, pain is temporary, man. You just have to go out there and play through it because at the end of the day, you love these guys, you love this sport."
That love has grown proportionately, the former Janesville Craig High School star noted.
"Once you've put so much into it," Benton said, pausing, "it is different. My freshman year, you could have told me, 'I'm going to give you a million dollars to quit playing.' I would have said, 'Ok.' Now, I don't think there's any amount of money that would make me want to stop playing football."
Benton has saved his best for last with five TFLs and two sacks the last three games. He had four tackles against Maryland and Nebraska and three at Iowa. His career high is still six tackles which he collected in last season's disappointing loss at Minnesota. He also had two sacks against the Gophers.
Overall, Benton has started 35 games, the most on the Badgers. Beach has the second-most starts (29) and the most career appearances (57) on the roster. The school record for service time is 59 games held by Leon Jacobs (2013-2017). Beach can match that mark in the UW's 21st consecutive bowl.
During his Monday press conference, interim head coach Jim Leonhard fielded a question on outside linebacker C.J. Goetz, a fifth-year senior. Goetz has steadily climbed the ladder as a contributor from redshirting as a freshman to now starting and ranking as the third leading tackler on the defense.
Goetz would like to come back for a sixth year (the COVID exemption).
Goetz, Beach and Benton are basically in the same category. Players who have stuck it out.
Specifically addressing Goetz, Leonard said, "I hope he's not becoming a rarity because that's the reality of football … a lot of players it takes time. They're not the finished product when they get to the college level. That's the false reality of kind of where football is right now.
"Everybody wants it right now. They expect immediate success. They expect the playing time. They expect the production. But that's not how it works. That's why the transfer portal is loaded right now. The process is getting ahead of itself.
"We have to continue to push and educate these players on really what it takes and what it means – it hasn't been that long where the expectation was to get into a program and grow and develop and continue to take steps to increase your role. Only recently has that drastically changed.
"I was the outlier playing in my second year," pointed out Leonhard, the former All-American safety for the Badgers. "Everybody else took year three, year four, where all of a sudden, they took that big jump. These are guys who played a lot of football. That's not uncommon.
"But I think the misconception out there of players is that they're on a three-year plan right now. If it doesn't happen year one, well, is this the right place for me? It's a joke. It's an absolute joke. Hopefully, C.J. Goetz is not the outlier, but the norm and it gets back to what the reality of the sport is."
That is, Leonhard concluded, "The development of 18, 19, 20, 21-year-old men …"
Beach's development has taken some twists and turns. After making the transition from tackle to left guard this season, he started the first five games before suffering a high ankle sprain against Illinois (Oct. 1). Previously, he had surgery on the same ankle making his rehab a little more problematic.
"But I was able to push through it," said Beach, an International Studies graduate.
Once he got back on the field, it was as a "jumbo" tight end at Michigan State ("O-linemen are just fat tight ends," he has cracked). With Tanor Bortollini starting the last three games at left guard, the 6-6, 317-pound Beach has been utilized exclusively as the sixth offensive linemen in certain formations.
It's a role that he has accepted.
"I'll do my job the best as I can with everything I've got," he said. "Wherever that is."
Beach and tailback Isaac Guerendo are the only two active Badger players who saw action in the 2018 Border Battle. Related to how he will look back on his career here, Beach, the Port Washington High School alum, said, "I played college football for six years. Not a lot of people can say that.
"Just being able to get through all the stuff I've been through is something I'm really proud of."
Beach does not have a fond memory from that '18 game against the Gophers. It was a loss. By contrast, the 2020 overtime win over Minnesota at Camp Randall Stadium still holds special meaning for Beach. "Maybe it was not the fondest memory, but it was one of the most memorable," he said.
"It was during the COVID year. We didn't know if we were going to play. There were ups and downs all year. We didn't even know if we were going to be playing a game the next week. (In fact, the original scheduled game on Nov. 28 against the Gophers was canceled and rescheduled for Dec. 19).
"When we finally got to the Minnesota week, you could kind of tell there were some guys that had checked out. But as a team, we rallied in that game and went into overtime. I was playing next to Logan Bruss and having a blast. We ended up winning on a field goal. It was one of the coolest feelings."
Beach is looking forward to seeing his parents on the field – again – for Senior Day. "They've always been there for me," said Beach whose family has moved to Doylestown, Ohio, just outside of Akron. "They've always helped out with everything. They've always been my No. 1 supporters."
When Benton runs out of the tunnel, what will flash through his mind when he sees mom and dad? "Just what it took for me to get to this point," he said. "We didn't always have it easy. I'm in my senior year of college and I never thought I'd be going to college. I'm the first male in my family to do so.
"It's going to be very emotional. There's nothing like their support of me. I think I'll be able to hold myself together. But it's not just what my parents have done for me, it's what my teammates have done for me, too. I feel like I've made some brothers for life."
Especially in that D-line room. "It's never a dull moment with those guys," he said. "I feel like we all have the same personality. In that film room, especially with Coach K (Kolodziej), it's amazing. We have the perfect balance – of working and actually being able to laugh and enjoy this game.
"Just that connection with my defensive line is what I'm going to remember the most."
Beach and Benton both know what it's like to lose the Axe. Neither wants to leave without it.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – A year ago, Tyler Beach and Keeanu Benton each had a decision to make on their future. Beach made his choice first by electing to take part in the Senior Day ceremony prior to the opening kickoff against Nebraska in the final home game of the 2021 season at Camp Randall Stadium.
With his helmet in his left hand and roses in his right, Beach was introduced along with the other departing seniors, including fellow offensive linemen Logan Bruss, Josh Seltzner and Blake Smithback. Running out of the north tunnel, Beach was greeted on the field by family.
But was it a given that he was leaving? "I wasn't sure yet, I was still trying to decide," he said.
Nonetheless, he added, "I was kind of treating it like it was my last deal."
The Badgers hung on to beat the Cornhuskers for their seventh consecutive victory. But a disheartening loss the following Saturday at Minnesota prevented them from winning the Big Ten West. Given some time to ponder his options, Beach eventually opted to return for a sixth year at Wisconsin.
"I ended up making the call right before the bowl game," Beach said of the Dec. 30 Las Vegas Bowl. "It gave me another opportunity to play college football and not a lot of people get that. I felt with the ankle injury that I ended up having, and starting out slowly, I wanted a fresh start and I got that.
"I got to play a new position (left guard) this season and I played tight end, too.
"Having opportunities to play all over the line was an awesome experience."
THANK YOU, SENIORS ❤️
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 22, 2022
Throughout the week we will be highlighting our seniors leading up to game day ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PO7ukHBLsV
A year ago, Benton went through the NFL draft evaluation process, which grants every prospect a thorough film study of their work and a recommendation. In December, there was speculation on what Benton would hear and do. In early January, he officially posted a tweet announcing his return.
On whether it was the right decision to come back for his senior year, the 6-4, 315-pound Benton, who has never redshirted as a Badger player, said, "Oh, yes, I wouldn't change my journey for anything. This has been a year for me to take a jump mentally and physically.
"Physically, it was knowing the playbook better – knowing what I'm doing. Mentally, it was knowing myself better. In not making that jump to the NFL, I'm still trying to figure myself out, what I want to do in my life and how I want to go about playing this football thing."
UW defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej likes to remind anyone moving on to the pro level, or even just contemplating it, that the NFL is not a developmental league, it's a business. And you want to make sure when you make the jump your game is complete and ready. Benton followed that advice.
Despite dealing with injuries, he has started all 11 games and recorded a career-high 30 tackles, punctuated by a personal best four quarterback sacks, the second most on the defense behind outside linebacker Nick Herbig who leads the Big Ten with 11, the second most in college football.
In his three previous seasons, 33 games, Benton had a total of 4.5 sacks. Remember, too, he's usually lining up as a nose tackle over the offensive center or guard. His path to the QB is far more restrictive because of the interior gridlock. And yet, he has generated consistent pressure up the middle.
In addition, he has turned himself into a four-quarter player by increasing his work capacity.
All of this with limited practice reps while often playing at less than 100 percent from week to week. Would this have been possible as a freshman? "Probably not," Benton said. "I just wasn't as mentally tough as I am now. As a freshman, it's easier to say, 'I'm hurting, I don't want to play …"'
But now if he's hurting – making it painful just to run – Benton stressed, "As a senior, I don't have time to waste. Even if I'm hurting, pain is temporary, man. You just have to go out there and play through it because at the end of the day, you love these guys, you love this sport."
That love has grown proportionately, the former Janesville Craig High School star noted.
"Once you've put so much into it," Benton said, pausing, "it is different. My freshman year, you could have told me, 'I'm going to give you a million dollars to quit playing.' I would have said, 'Ok.' Now, I don't think there's any amount of money that would make me want to stop playing football."
Benton has saved his best for last with five TFLs and two sacks the last three games. He had four tackles against Maryland and Nebraska and three at Iowa. His career high is still six tackles which he collected in last season's disappointing loss at Minnesota. He also had two sacks against the Gophers.
Overall, Benton has started 35 games, the most on the Badgers. Beach has the second-most starts (29) and the most career appearances (57) on the roster. The school record for service time is 59 games held by Leon Jacobs (2013-2017). Beach can match that mark in the UW's 21st consecutive bowl.
During his Monday press conference, interim head coach Jim Leonhard fielded a question on outside linebacker C.J. Goetz, a fifth-year senior. Goetz has steadily climbed the ladder as a contributor from redshirting as a freshman to now starting and ranking as the third leading tackler on the defense.
Goetz would like to come back for a sixth year (the COVID exemption).
Goetz, Beach and Benton are basically in the same category. Players who have stuck it out.
Specifically addressing Goetz, Leonard said, "I hope he's not becoming a rarity because that's the reality of football … a lot of players it takes time. They're not the finished product when they get to the college level. That's the false reality of kind of where football is right now.
"Everybody wants it right now. They expect immediate success. They expect the playing time. They expect the production. But that's not how it works. That's why the transfer portal is loaded right now. The process is getting ahead of itself.
"We have to continue to push and educate these players on really what it takes and what it means – it hasn't been that long where the expectation was to get into a program and grow and develop and continue to take steps to increase your role. Only recently has that drastically changed.
"I was the outlier playing in my second year," pointed out Leonhard, the former All-American safety for the Badgers. "Everybody else took year three, year four, where all of a sudden, they took that big jump. These are guys who played a lot of football. That's not uncommon.
"But I think the misconception out there of players is that they're on a three-year plan right now. If it doesn't happen year one, well, is this the right place for me? It's a joke. It's an absolute joke. Hopefully, C.J. Goetz is not the outlier, but the norm and it gets back to what the reality of the sport is."
That is, Leonhard concluded, "The development of 18, 19, 20, 21-year-old men …"
Beach's development has taken some twists and turns. After making the transition from tackle to left guard this season, he started the first five games before suffering a high ankle sprain against Illinois (Oct. 1). Previously, he had surgery on the same ankle making his rehab a little more problematic.
"But I was able to push through it," said Beach, an International Studies graduate.
Once he got back on the field, it was as a "jumbo" tight end at Michigan State ("O-linemen are just fat tight ends," he has cracked). With Tanor Bortollini starting the last three games at left guard, the 6-6, 317-pound Beach has been utilized exclusively as the sixth offensive linemen in certain formations.
It's a role that he has accepted.
"I'll do my job the best as I can with everything I've got," he said. "Wherever that is."
Beach and tailback Isaac Guerendo are the only two active Badger players who saw action in the 2018 Border Battle. Related to how he will look back on his career here, Beach, the Port Washington High School alum, said, "I played college football for six years. Not a lot of people can say that.
"Just being able to get through all the stuff I've been through is something I'm really proud of."
Beach does not have a fond memory from that '18 game against the Gophers. It was a loss. By contrast, the 2020 overtime win over Minnesota at Camp Randall Stadium still holds special meaning for Beach. "Maybe it was not the fondest memory, but it was one of the most memorable," he said.
"It was during the COVID year. We didn't know if we were going to play. There were ups and downs all year. We didn't even know if we were going to be playing a game the next week. (In fact, the original scheduled game on Nov. 28 against the Gophers was canceled and rescheduled for Dec. 19).
"When we finally got to the Minnesota week, you could kind of tell there were some guys that had checked out. But as a team, we rallied in that game and went into overtime. I was playing next to Logan Bruss and having a blast. We ended up winning on a field goal. It was one of the coolest feelings."
Beach is looking forward to seeing his parents on the field – again – for Senior Day. "They've always been there for me," said Beach whose family has moved to Doylestown, Ohio, just outside of Akron. "They've always helped out with everything. They've always been my No. 1 supporters."
When Benton runs out of the tunnel, what will flash through his mind when he sees mom and dad? "Just what it took for me to get to this point," he said. "We didn't always have it easy. I'm in my senior year of college and I never thought I'd be going to college. I'm the first male in my family to do so.
"It's going to be very emotional. There's nothing like their support of me. I think I'll be able to hold myself together. But it's not just what my parents have done for me, it's what my teammates have done for me, too. I feel like I've made some brothers for life."
Especially in that D-line room. "It's never a dull moment with those guys," he said. "I feel like we all have the same personality. In that film room, especially with Coach K (Kolodziej), it's amazing. We have the perfect balance – of working and actually being able to laugh and enjoy this game.
"Just that connection with my defensive line is what I'm going to remember the most."
Beach and Benton both know what it's like to lose the Axe. Neither wants to leave without it.
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