Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Keeanu Benton

Chris Adamski
Friday, April 28, 2023 8:59 p.m. | Friday, April 28, 2023 8:59 p.m.

Wisconsin defensive lineman Keeanu Benton runs a drill at the NFL combine last month in Indianapolis. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Benton with the 49th overall pick of the draft Friday.

Keeanu Benton

Second-round pick, No. 49 overall

Defensive tackle, Wisconsin

6-foot-4, 309 pounds

I can’t say enough good things about Keeanu Benton. So much twitch in his 310+ pound frame. pic.twitter.com/Mv7GDHhpz9

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 20, 2023

Numbers: Had 35 tackles (20 solo, 10 for loss), with 4 ½ sacks and two pass breakups in 12 starts this past season. Over his four-year college career, Benton had 80 tackles (43 solo, 19 for loss), nine sacks and four passes defensed.

Hometown: Janesville, Wis.

Tidbits: The highest-selected defensive lineman by the Steelers since Stephon Tuitt (No. 46 overall) in 2014. … Was selected third-team all-Big Ten as a senior last season by conference coaches. Coaches voted him second team all-conference in 2021, and in 2020 Benton was all-academic Big Ten. … Benton’s time of 7.34 seconds in the three-cone drill at the NFL Combine was the second-fastest among 11 defensive linemen who took part in the drill. … According to Pro Football Focus’ subjective grades, Benton rated as the 10th-best pass rusher among more than 200 qualifying interior defensive linemen in college football last season. … Joins Isaiahh Loudermilk (fifth round, 2021) as Wisconsin defensive linemen drafted by the Steelers over the past three years. … Grew up 45 minutes from the Wisconsin campus. … Becomes the fourth Wisconsin player on the Steelers’ roster, matching Penn State and Texas A&M for the most of any college represented.

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.