Florida State wideout Malik Benson was working his way into training for the 2025 NFL Draft, but now he has the opportunity to play one more season of college ball and he’s deciding to do that with the Oregon Ducks.
Benson caught 25 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown last season for the Seminoles.
Per Pete Thamel of ESPN, Benson committed to Oregon because he likes the Ducks’ coaching staff. He also wants to play with quarterback Dante Moore, who is expected to be Dillon Gabriel’s successor next season.
Benson is also happy for the opportunity to try to prove himself once more at the college level. He was training to try to make it to the NFL before his final year of eligibility was granted, but the NCAA’s blanket waiver extended an extra year of eligibility for 2025-26 for players who previously played at a non-NCAA school for one or more years.
Benson played JUCO ball at Hutchinson Community College for two seasons to start his college career, so he was granted the extra year of eligibility because of this ruling.
“I’m just glad that the Lord blessed me with another opportunity and another year,” Benson had told ESPN. “I will not take this for granted.”
When Benson transferred from Hutchinson Community College to Alabama, he was ranked as the No. 1 JUCO player in the country, according to 247Sports.
