15.5 TFLs; 7 sacks; 2 PDs; 2 FF; 1 FR; 1 TD; 58 tackles (28 solo)
- Redshirt senior
- 6’2″ 236 pounds
- Entered portal Dec. 7, 2020
Another player who went to join Butch Jones, Kivon Bennett was actually recruited to Tennessee football by Jones and spent his freshman year under him. When Jeremy Pruitt arrived and moved him more into an edge rusher role, though, he waited his chance to thrive, and after Darrell Taylor left, he took advantage in 2020.
However, while Bennett was thriving that year, he suffered a legal issue in November that resulted in his dismissal from the team. With two years of eligibility left, he rebounded in his transfer to the Arkansas State Red Wolves and helped Jones navigate a difficult first year.
Bennett’s stats speak for themselves. He was half a tackle for a loss and half a sack behind JoJo Ozougwu for the team leader in both categories, but he was one of two players to force multiple fumbles, and he had the only defensive touchdown on the team that year.
For his play, he earned Second Team All-Sun Belt as a defensive lineman. Byron Young, Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison made it easy for the Vols to operate without Bennett this past year, but they still could have used him. Talent like his is hard to come by, and he proved that this past year.