Zen Michaelski replaced right tackle Khalil Benson as starter in Indiana's 73-0 win over Indiana State on Friday night. Benson, who started the first two games of the season, beat Michalski in a fall-camp battle but was suspended for the first half of play in the beat down of the Sycamores.
Benson, who transferred to Colorado last offseason from Indiana, started the first four games of the 2024 season at right guard for the Buffs. He then missed most of the seasons games due to injury or was set as a rotational player on the offensive line.
""Benson was not available for the first half, Violation of team rules and regulations.""Curt Cignetti
"Kahlil Benson started at right tackle the year before I was hired here, and then when I got hired, he was in the portal already," Cignetti said. "Went to Colorado and heard such great things about the 'new Indiana,' he wanted to come back with his buddy Louis Moore.
Head coach Curt Cignetti didn't say whether Khalil Benson will start at right tackle when the Hoosiers host No. 9 Illinois at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 inside Memorial Stadium.
The senior has been solid all season so far, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 76.8, including 79.7 as a run blocker and 74.7 in pass protection, in wins over Old Dominion and Kennesaw State.
In the 2022 and 2023 seasons the 6-foot-6 and 310-pound Benson appeared in 24 career games for Indiana, with 17 starts. He played a total of 1,423 offensive snaps – 774 in 2023 and 649 in 2022 – with the Hoosiers.
In 2022, he played all 12 games, with five starts, for the Hoosiers. He missed the 2020 season with a torn ACL and redshirted in 2021.
During his five-year collegiate career, Benson has played in 33 games with 21 starts.