The Indiana Hoosiers set a program record by having eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Led by Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, Indiana's draft class made headlines all throughout the spring after their historic showing.
Curt Cignetti delivers the perfect response to Purdue AD's jab at Indiana
Following the draft, a number of Hoosiers signed with NFL franchises as undrafted free agents. Among those players was OL Kahlil Benson, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on May 4. Despite going undrafted, Benson is already turning his NFL career into something special.
Former Hoosier Kahlil Benson primed for starting role on Chiefs' offensive line
With nearly a dozen full-squad training camp practices in the books, Benson is poised to grab a starting role on the Kansas city offensive line.
For the first week and half or so of camp, Benson has been getting first team reps at right tackle. That means he is trending in the right direction to become a Week 1 starter just months after going undrafted. That would be quite the accomplishment.
"I think Kahlil is doing a great job," said Kansas City starting left tackle Josh Simmons last week via via KQTV. "I think he's a very physical player. I think he should just add on to that. I think you can't really teach effort. I mean, that's what he's giving out there, so that's really all I'm telling him right now is keep doing that effort."
It's clear that Benson is making quite the first impression, giving a ton of momentum with Week 1 right around the corner. If he keeps things up, he puts himself in a strong position to protect one of the best players in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes.
Kahlil Benson shows just how deep Indiana's 2026 NFL class is
With names like Mendoza, Omar Cooper Jr, D'Angelo Ponds, and Elijah Sarratt leading the way, Indiana's 2026 NFL Draft class featured plenty of big-game talent. However, Benson making such a strong immediate impact without getting drafted shows just how deep and talented IU's roster was last season.
Owning a 6'6" 319-pound frame, Benson spent five seasons with the Hoosiers. They came in different stints, as he appeared in 24 games with 17 starts from 2020-23 before transferring to Colorado for the 2024 season. In Boulder, he played in nine games with four starts.
Benson then transferred back to Indiana for the 2025 season and was a part of the Hoosiers' National Championship team. He played a key role in Indiana's title-winning season, appearing in all 16 games and making 12 starts at right tackle. His efforts helped the Hoosier offense post historic numbers while keeping Mendoza upright during his Heisman-winning campaign.
A lot can happen between now and Week 1, but at this point in time it seems that Kansas City's starting right tackle job is Benson's to lose. He will be one of several Hoosiers to make their NFL debuts this season, further adding to the lore and history of the Hoosier program under Cignetti's leadership.
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