cfb zeitgeistZeitgeist
OFFSEASON · SUMMER 2026 · COMMITMENT SEASON
Heisman / Players / Kechaun Bennett /UCLA

Kechaun Bennett

DL · UCLA · Sr · #52

Below the discourse floor — the honest stats-only state.

23 TACKLES · 1 SACKS

2026 RETURNINGReturning to UCLA for 2026

2026 Outlook

Returning to UCLA for 2026

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · UCLA

Returning around him

  • 22% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: +12 net (41 in / 29 out)

2026 Award watch

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

UCLA · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #26 · 2026 recruiting class #46

DL · UCLA · BIG TEN

Kechaun Bennett

  • 4
  • #52
  • 6-4 | 257 lb
  • Suffield, CT

CFB Zeitgeist Score

48

Mid-pack in the position cohort. Carried by sacks at the 63rd percentile.

Heisman Heat

#9930

<1% win probability

Fan Belief

Awaiting

Player-specific FI not yet ingested. Falls back to team mood below.

Respect Gap

Awaiting

Coming online with player-level FI.

Reality Gap

Awaiting

Coming online with player-level FI.

ACCOLADE PROBABILITY

Heisman

<1%

TOP DEFENSE AWARD

Nagurski

CONSENSUS

All-American

Player Standing · 17 rungs

Tier 2 · Starter

R06 · Starter

Starter. A locked-in starting role.

Not on team2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★
#342 national
CFB
College
3 teams
2021–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Identity & Role

The durable bio layer: position, size, hometown, and roster role.

PositionDL
Class4
Jersey52
Measurements6-4 | 257 lb
HometownSuffield, CT
Primary teamUCLA

Recruiting Pedigree

How big the prospect was before college, and whether the later career arc beat that expectation.

Top pedigree 4-star No. 342 recruit
Composite rating 0.8967 HighSchool
Signed with Michigan 2021
Origin Suffield Academy Suffield, CT, USA
Class Profile Context
2021 4-star | 0.8967 No. 342 recruit | HighSchool | Michigan

Transfer Arc

Portal movement changes role, context, and perception. This keeps that path in one place.

Portal moves 1 Programs changed on file
Latest destination UCLA 2025
Transfer stars 3-star CFBD transfer rating context
Eligibility Immediate Apr 23, 2025
Season Move Context
2025 Michigan -> UCLA 3-star | 0.8600 | Immediate

Heisman Lens · 2024 Season · Final

Where the player landed at the end of the listed season — final nowcast rank, win/finalist/ballot probabilities, and the cleanest official Heisman placement on file.

HIGH CONFIDENCE· through week 16
Current nowcast#9930Latest modeled ballot order
Season forecast#9891Where the full season sim points
Win probability0.0%Chance to actually win the trophy
Finalist probability0.0%Chance to make the finalist tier
Ballot probability0.0%Chance to appear anywhere on a ballot
Best official finish--Best completed Heisman placement on file

Heisman Futures

Not yet listed on major futures markets.

No achievements unlocked yet this season.

Selector Grid · 2025

AP
FWAA
AFCA
WCFF
SN
SI

Selector recognition fills in once the major honors lists (AP, FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp, Sporting News, SI) are scraped and ingested.

NIL · Recruiting · NFL Draft

Market value, pedigree & pro outcome

Recruit stars

★★★★☆

to Michigan

Composite

0.8967

#342 national

Today’s Hot-Take

The Hot-Take engine fires when this player’s percentile profile crosses a defensible threshold (top 10% in a cohort, 100+ snap sample). When it’s quiet, the model is honoring its “must be defensible” rule.

Anti-Take

PENDING

The contrarian read fires when the rules-engine detects a stat that complicates the Hot-Take. Quiet here means the model hasn’t found a defensible counter yet — not that one doesn’t exist.

The Room on Kechaun Bennett

Fan sentiment · Awaiting signal

The Room reads fan conversation around a player — who’s talking, what they believe, and how that shifts. It publishes once weekly volume rebuilds; for most players that’s in-season, when game-week chatter spikes.

Cohort divergence map

Cohort divergence reads how different fanbases talk about this player. Returns once weekly mentions clear the publish floor.

Rival Radar

How rival fanbases talk about Kechaun Bennett

No rival-bucket mentions in the current season.

Signature Story

Awaiting candidate metric

He hasn't written his page yet — we'll start filling it in when there are enough snaps to rank against his peers.

Signature Moment

No signature moment on the ledger yet.

Returns once this player puts together a multi-game body of work — single-game flashes alone don't clear the bar.

A 3-act season arc returns once this player has six or more games on the ledger.

Season Pace · Projection

Where the defensive totals stand

projecting to 13-game
Through 10g
23Tackles
3Tackles for loss
1Sacks
Per game
2Tackles
0.3Tackles for loss
0.1Sacks
Projected (13g)
30Tackles
3.9Tackles for loss
1.3Sacks

To hit 80-tackle season (currently 23): needs 19/game over remaining 3.

To hit 100-tackle season (currently 23): needs 25.7/game over remaining 3.

To hit 6-sack season (currently 1): needs 1.7/game over remaining 3.

To hit 10-sack season (currently 1): needs 3/game over remaining 3.

Why this is a rare defensive case

The fast read on the thing that makes this player more than a generic stat line.

Kechaun Bennett is trying to climb the steepest award hill in college football: a defensive candidacy. The hook is the disruption profile on UCLA's defense, with 1.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for loss, and -- interceptions through the current loaded season. For a defender, the question is never just production; it is whether elite disruption and team context can become nationally undeniable.

Current place #9930 0.0% win | 0.0% finalist
Role load -- Role share still loading
Profile quirk Blue-chip pedigree No. 342 recruit

2025 Season · Final

Traditional stats first. Advanced context underneath.

Last season

DEF season snapshot

2025 season snapshot | final

2025 season snapshot | finalData: CFBD player stats + local Heisman modelPeer context: same position + same level
Total tackles 23 11 solo | #1813/4942 (63rd pct)
TFL 3.0 Backfield disruption | #1006/4972 (80th pct)
Sacks 1.0 Pass-rush finish | #872/4972 (82nd pct)
Player identity What kind of player is this?

30-second read

What kind of player is this?

Defensive contributor against FBS defenders.

Balanced profile

2025 Season · Final

2025 season snapshot | final

Tackling & Disruption

TOT
23 63rd
SOLO
11 60th
TFL
3.0 80th
SACK
1.0 82nd
QBH
1 44th

Game Log · Week-by-week

2025 season · 10 games

Box score · CFBD
WkOppTKLSOLOTFLSACKINTPDNote
Wk 2L 23-30@ UNLV521.01.00Season-high 5 tackles
Wk 3L 10-35vs New Mexico420.00.00
Wk 5L 14-17@ Northwestern311.00.00
Wk 7W 38-13@ Michigan State320.00.00
Wk 8W 20-17vs Maryland111.00.00
Wk 9L 6-56@ Indiana310.00.00
Wk 11L 21-28vs Nebraska110.00.00
Wk 12L 10-48@ Ohio State100.00.00
Wk 13L 14-48vs Washington110.00.00
Wk 14L 10-29@ USC100.00.00
Total23113.01.00
Season-by-season tables Career rows + per-season box score

Traditional history

Traditional Stats

Season rows up top, career context at the bottom.

Season rows Career row

Season context · Team result + system

2021Maryland6-6HC: Mike Locksley · Balanced, fast tempo
2023Michigan15-0HC: Jim Harbaugh · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Michigan8-5HC: Sherrone Moore · Run-heavy
2025UCLA3-9HC: Deshaun Foster · Balanced, slow tempo
SeasonTeam
2025UCLA23113.01.0------
2024Michigan430.00.0------
2023Michigan331.00.0------
2021Maryland----0.00.01----
Career4 loaded seasons30174.01.01----
Advanced layer Usage, value, and context

Advanced metrics second

Advanced Metrics

Usage, value, and opponent-adjusted context.

Usage Value Context
Disruption stats

TFL, sacks, and QB hurries are grouped together because defensive Heisman cases are usually built on visible havoc, not on tackle counts alone.

Coverage splash

Pass breakups, interceptions, and forced fumbles matter because national awards voters respond to plays that change possessions and highlight reels.

Peer percentile

Every percentile is compared against players at the same position and level, so an FBS quarterback is judged against FBS quarterbacks, not the whole sport.

Traditional first

The top tables stick to the stats fans already know from broadcasts and box scores. Advanced context is pushed underneath instead of replacing the basics.

INT -- -- pick-six TD
Pass breakups 0 Coverage disruption
QB pressures 1 Quarterback hurries | #1051/1878 (44th pct)
Open full stat explorer
0 metrics visible Showing all metrics
Group Metric Value Rank Pct Why it matters
Defense Total tackles 23 #1813/4942 63rd pct Volumevs FBS DEF
Defense TFL 3.0 #1006/4972 80th pct Disruptionvs FBS DEF
Defense Sacks 1.0 #872/4972 82nd pct Disruptionvs FBS DEF
Defense QB hurries 1 #1051/1878 44th pct Disruptionvs FBS DEF
Defense Solo tackles 11 #1855/4584 60th pct Volumevs FBS DEF

Player Standing

Universal 17-step ladder. Tier pills below; accolade streams nested.

AWAITING CLASSIFICATION

On-team2-deepStartingRecognizedEliteApex

AWAITING CLASSIFICATION · Rung None of 16

Why he’s here

Standing classification populates when honors, Heisman, and roster signals all align.

What moves him up

What moves him down

Accolade streams

StatusAwaiting tracker

The Lombardi award tracker integrates per-week probability once a dedicated scraper for this award lands. Confirmed past winners and finalists for this player will surface here.

Splits · Per-game

2025 season · 10 games

Home/Road · Win/Loss · Season halves

Home vs Road

TKL/gTFL/gSACK/gPD/g
Home4g1.80.20.00.0
Road6g2.70.30.20.0

Win vs Loss

TKL/gTFL/gSACK/gPD/g
Wins2g2.00.50.00.0
Losses8g2.40.20.10.0

First half vs Second half

TKL/gTFL/gSACK/gPD/g
Weeks 1-74g3.80.50.20.0
Weeks 8+6g1.30.20.00.0

Pocket and defense-quality (clean vs. pressure) splits are coming soon.

Savant · Box-rate percentiles

Where this profile ranks vs the DL cohort

48Mid-pack
6 metrics · season cumulative

Concern: passes defended (17th).

Sacks#847 / 2975 · 63rd pct
1.0defe
Tackles for loss#1001 / 2975 · 63rd pct
3.0defe
QB hurries#1007 / 2975 · 55th pct
1defe
Tackles#1813 / 2975 · 38th pct
23defe
Solo tackles#1855 / 2975 · 35th pct
11defe
Passes defended#1916 / 2975 · 18th pct
0defe

Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.

Advanced Savant · DL · 2024

Percentile Card

Advanced opponent-adjusted percentile bars are coming soon for this player.

P4G5All FBS
EPA / dropback
awaiting
CPOE
awaiting
Success rate
awaiting
Explosive rate (20+)
awaiting
aDOT
awaiting
Deep-ball accuracy
awaiting
Pressure-to-sack
awaiting
3rd-down EPA
awaiting
Red-zone TD rate
awaiting
Play-action EPA
awaiting
Scramble EPA
awaiting
Turnover-worthy play rate
awaiting

Advanced Savant

Opponent-adjusted advanced metrics with a cohort filter.

Advanced opponent-adjusted metrics are coming soon for this player. Selected cohort: P4.

Peer Comparator · Fingerprint match

Three closest profiles by box-rate percentile

3 peers · 6 metrics
Kechaun BennettUCLAMarcAnthony ParkerNavy· 61% simMicah DaveyUTEP· 61% simDaniel WingateMaryland· 60% sim
Sacks
63
Bennett
80
Parker
63
Davey
74
Wingate
Tackles for loss
63
Bennett
87
Parker
91
Davey
87
Wingate
QB hurries
55
Bennett
88
Parker
82
Davey
72
Wingate
Tackles
38
Bennett
98
Parker
99
Davey
98
Wingate
Solo tackles
35
Bennett
96
Parker
99
Davey
99
Wingate
Passes defended
18
Bennett
18
Parker
18
Davey
48
Wingate

Closest peers by overall box-score percentile profile at the same position.

Player DNA

The Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack; controls his gap and stacks blocks.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Elijah O'Neal’s 2023 season.

Elijah O'Neal

93%match

Arizona State · 2023

#2

Antonio Moultrie

Miami · 2022

90%
#3

Antonio Moultrie

UAB · 2021

89%
#4

Antoine Cook

Kent State · 2021

88%
#5

Deshon Hall

Louisiana Tech · 2021

87%

Matches Elijah on

TFL rate
Sack rate
Weight

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Jahfari Harvey's senior season at Miami (2023).

Jahfari Harvey

93%match

Miami · 2023

#2

Jack Pyburn

LSU · 2025

91%
#3

David Ugwoegbu

Houston · 2023

88%
#4

CJ Bazile

Buffalo · 2023

87%
#5

Asyrus Simon

UTSA · 2023

86%

Matches Jahfari on

Class year
Height
Sack rate

Supporting Cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2025 season

Head Coach

Deshaun Foster

Pass share

48.9%

358 pass / 374 run

Plays / game

61.0

12 games

OL sack rate (allowed)

9.3%

280 dropbacks · PBP

Scheme: Balanced, slow tempo.

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025

2 coaches
2021
Chip Kelly
UCLA
2023
Chip Kelly
UCLA
2024
Deshaun Foster
UCLA
era →
2025
Deshaun Foster
UCLA

Coaching transition mid-career: Chip Kelly → Deshaun Foster. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

Bio · Recruiting · Transfer · Roster

Off-field context — switch tabs to drill into recruit profile, transfer arc, or roster timeline.

HometownSuffield, CT
Height6'4"
Weight257 lb
Class4
PositionDL
Jersey52

Trophy Case · Detail

Every honor on the ledger, broken out by stream and selector.

Honors

No formal honors on the ledger yet

All-America, all-conference, player-of-the-week, watch-list, and postseason awards land here when they're earned. The absence is the signal: most players never collect formal honors, and that's its own kind of context.

Honors Timeline

Season-end distinction and week-by-week recognition on one timeline.

Season Honor Scope Team / Selector Context
No formal honors on the ledger yet. All-America, all-conference, weekly awards, watch lists, and postseason trophies land here when they’re earned.

Heisman By Year

Modeled rank and official finish by season.

Season Team Role Latest Model Forecast Win Finalist Official Finish Points Context
2024 Michigan DL4 #9930 #9891 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W16 snapshot | Big Ten
2023 Michigan DL4 #3234 #2850 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W19 snapshot | Big Ten
2022 Michigan DL4 #4229 #3751 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W20 snapshot | Big Ten
2021 Maryland DL4 #11561 #11321 0.0% 0.0% -- -- W20 snapshot | Big Ten

Roster Timeline

Team, conference, and class by season.

Season Team Conference Pos Class Bio
2025 UCLA Big Ten DL 4 No. 52 | 6-4 | 257 lb | Suffield, CT
2024 Michigan Big Ten DL 4 No. 52 | 6-4 | 257 lb | Suffield, CT
2023 Michigan Big Ten DL 4 No. 52 | 6-4 | 257 lb | Suffield, CT
2022 Michigan Big Ten DL 4 No. 52 | 6-4 | 257 lb | Suffield, CT
2021 Maryland Big Ten DL 4 No. 52 | 6-4 | 257 lb | Suffield, CT