#79

De'Jon Benton

DL · Hawai'i · Sr. · #79

All-Conf HMReturning to Hawai'i for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

De'Jon Benton

DL · Hawai'i · Sr · #79

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
2 teams
2021–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Trophy Case · Confirmed honors

What the selectors said

1 entries
🎖

ALL-CONFERENCE

All-Conf mention (2025)

All-Mountain West

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025

2 coaches
2021
2022era →
2023
2025

Coaching transition mid-career: Todd Graham → Timmy Chang. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021USC4-8HC: Donte Williams · Balanced, fast tempo
2022USC11-3HC: Lincoln Riley · Balanced
2023USC8-5HC: Lincoln Riley · Pass-leaning, slow tempo
2025Hawai'i9-4HC: Timmy Chang · Pass-leaning

Awards

Trophy Case · Confirmed honors

What the selectors said

1 entries
🎖

ALL-CONFERENCE

All-Conf mention (2025)

All-Mountain West

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Hawai'i29209.05.5------
2023USC1195.52.0------
2022USC1371.50.0------
2021USC310.00.0------
Career563716.07.5------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025

W 37–20

vs Sam Houston

1 TFL  ·  4 SOLO  ·  5 TOT

How he plays

Play style

Disrupts the pocket from the interior.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Hawai'i

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Hawai'i

Returning around him

  • 46% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • Transfer portal: +7 net (16 in / 9 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Hawai'i · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #120 · 2026 recruiting class #122

DNA match

Player DNA

3-Tech Penetrator

Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Trumane Bell’s 2023 season.

Trumane Bell

85%match

UTSA · 2023

#2

D'Anthony Jones

Houston · 2022

All-AAC
80%
#3

John Morgan

Pittsburgh · 2022

78%
#4

Zi'Yon Hill

Louisiana · 2022

77%
#5

Ramon Puryear

Louisville · 2023

77%

Matches Trumane on

Weight
TFL rate
Sack rate

Differs from Trumane on

Hurry rate (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Trumane Bell's senior season at UTSA (2023).

Trumane Bell

84%match

UTSA · 2023

#2

Joe Evans

Iowa · 2023

All-AAC
80%
#3

Buddha Peleti

Washington State · 2025

79%
#4

Jasheen Davis

Wake Forest · 2023

76%
#5

Ramon Puryear

Louisville · 2023

75%

Matches Trumane on

Class year
TFL rate
Weight

Differs from Trumane on

Hurry rate (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #8054

Final rank
#8088
Avg #8382.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #8054 this season.