Duane Bennett

Duane Bennett (born June 11, 1989) is the starting sophomore running back for the University of Minnesota football team. He attended O'Fallon Township High School in Illinois where he had great success playing football. He was heavily recruited out of high school to big Division I schools because of his admirable high school success. He eventually picked the University of Minnesota, a school that has produced big name NFL running backs over the past decade like Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III.

Early life

Duane was born June 11, 1989 to Darryl Bennett and Chantya Floyd. His first name is pronounced DO-on.

High school career

Duane attended O'Fallon Township High School where he graduated in 2007. He put up excellent numbers all four years there, especially his Senior and Junior season. As a Junior, he contributed 993 yards rushing on 112 carries with 12 touchdowns. As a Senior, he put up 1,362 yards and 22 touchdowns which solidified that he was an obvious Division I prospect. His total numbers in his high school career are 443 carries for 3,419 yards and 40 scores.

College recruiting

Duane was heavily recruited by schools such as Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Purdue and many others. He ultimately chose the University of Minnesota, where at the moment he signed his LOI many people were predicting that he was the Golden Gophers next big running back.

Freshman year

Bennett appeared in 10 of 12 games for the Golden Gophers, 7 of which he started. He earned freshman All Big-Ten honors from Sporting News among other accolades. His first career start came against the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes on September 29th where he rushed 16 times for just 34 yards but had a season-high 4 receptions for 39 yards. Against the Michigan Wolverines on October 27th Duane became the first true freshman to rush for 100 yards or more since Laurence Maroney, which is a great achievement in a season that hadn't been very successful for the Gophers. He finished the year with 107 carries, 442 rushing yards, and 3 rushing touchdowns.

Sophomore year

Duane shot out of the cannon for the Golden Gophers right from the start, piling up number after number. His first opponent, Northern Illinois, looked futile trying to stop him. He ran for 92 yards on 18 attempts, while scoring 2 touchdowns (one of which was 61-yards).

Season-ending injury

Duane picked up right where he left off in the Northern Illinois game, totaling 148 total yards and a receiving touchdown. Everything was looking up for Duane until the 4th quarter, where on a screen pass he received a hard blow from a Bowling Green player to the left knee, which later was diagnosed as a torn ACL. This was a devastating blow for the Golden Gophers, who had shot out of the gate 2-0 and owed a lot of their success to Duane. He will have season-ending surgery, and hopes to return in time for spring football.