Keeanu Benton, a 2019 Janesville Craig graduate who is preparing for his third NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, greets some of the 150 young players that attended his 1-day camp at Janesville Craig on Monday afternoon.
Keeanu Benton reacts after throwing a pass to a camper during his one-day football camp at Janesville Craig on Monday afternoon. A total of 150 8-to-14 year olds attended the camp and the 2019 Craig High graduate and present Pittsburgh Steeler defensive lineman intends to expand the camp to both younger and high school players next year.
Nick Herbig, a teammate of Janesville's Keeanu Benton at both the University of Wisconsin and now the Pittsburgh Steelers, instructs a young camper on running pass routes during Benton's one-day football camp held at Janesville Craig on Monday. Nick's brother, Nate, who will join the Steelers as an offensive lineman after signing as a free agent, also participated as a coach at Monday's camp, along with former UW teammate Rodas Johnson.
Spectators lined the upper hill of a Janesville Craig High practice field to watch 150 campers take part in a two-hour football camp put on by 2019 Craig graduate Keeanu Benton on Monday afternoon. It was the first camp Benton has conducted. He plans to add a camp for high school players next year.
Keeanu Benton, a 2019 Janesville Craig graduate who is preparing for his third NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, greets some of the 150 young players that attended his 1-day camp at Janesville Craig on Monday afternoon.
TOM MILLER/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
JANESVILLE — The young football players did not seem intimidated by the big NFL defensive lineman walking among them Monday afternoon on a Janesville Craig High football field.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound pound Keeanu Benton didn’t give them a reason to. He handed out hand slaps, smiles and greetings onto all.
Benton, who in a few weeks will be battling fellow 300-pound gladiators in the trenches of the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL preseason camp, appeared to be having as much fun as the campers.
The 2019 Janesville Craig graduate conducted his first camp for 8–to-14-year-old players on a Craig practice field. The 150 youngsters went from station to station, practicing tackling, running pass routes and other nuances of the game.
Keeanu Benton reacts after throwing a pass to a camper during his one-day football camp at Janesville Craig on Monday afternoon. A total of 150 8-to-14 year olds attended the camp and the 2019 Craig High graduate and present Pittsburgh Steeler defensive lineman intends to expand the camp to both younger and high school players next year.
TOM MILLER/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
Benton and several of his former UW teammates, present Steeler teammates and high school coaches made the two-hour camp in the summer heat as pleasant as possible for the campers.
“I wish I had something like this when I was young,†Benton said on why he arranged for the event. “I want to show these guys that they can be better. It doesn’t matter where you start, but where you finish.â€
Benton played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin after graduating from Craig. He finished with 81 tackles and nine sacks and was a second-round draft choice of Pittsburgh in the 2023 draft.
Nick Herbig, a teammate of Janesville's Keeanu Benton at both the University of Wisconsin and now the Pittsburgh Steelers, instructs a young camper on running pass routes during Benton's one-day football camp held at Janesville Craig on Monday. Nick's brother, Nate, who will join the Steelers as an offensive lineman after signing as a free agent, also participated as a coach at Monday's camp, along with former UW teammate Rodas Johnson.
TOM MILLER/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
BentonÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Badger teammate, Nick Herbig, ran the camp station involving blocking and cutting. The 6-2, 240-pound Herbig, a first-team All-Big Ten linebacker in 2022, was the Steelers’ fourth-round selection in the 2023 draft.
With a floppy white Steeler hat on his head, Herbig handed out tips as each of the youngsters ran the drills.
HerbigÃÛèÖÊÓƵ brother, Nate, also was on the Craig practice field. The 6-4, 330-pound offensive lineman just signed with the Steelers as a free agent after starting his NFL career with Philadelphia and Washington.
Also joining a host of local coaches was Rodas Johnson, who played 50 games with the Badgers before transferring to Texas A&M before last season.
Spectators lined the upper hill of a Janesville Craig High practice field to watch 150 campers take part in a two-hour football camp put on by 2019 Craig graduate Keeanu Benton on Monday afternoon. It was the first camp Benton has conducted. He plans to add a camp for high school players next year.
TOM MILLER/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
“It just goes to show how long-lasting these relationships are,†Benton said.
Benton works at various camps his Badger teammates conduct as well. It is all reciprocal.
“ThatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ what makes us brothers,†he said.
Benton has worked at camps the Herbigs have conducted in their native Kalaheo, Hawaii. That location is known as “The Garden Isle†because much of the 562-square-mile island is uninhabited. The island was used in the Jurassic Park series, as well as “Raiders of the Lost Ark†and “South Pacific.â€
“ThatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ a nicer camp,†Benton said with a smile.
Benton spends about a week in Janesville during the offseason.
There were a few butterflies for the Steelers nose tackle when Monday arrived.
“I’m just figuring out to run a camp,†he said.
Benton said next summer he plans to conduct two camps, one for high school players and one for the 8-14 year olds.
The local camp is a payback for all the support he received while growing up in Janesville. Before the camp began, Benton made it a point to talk with Bob Roach who is battling terminal cancer.
“Whatever I can do,†Benton said of the sold-out camp. “ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ nice to come back.â€
There were 150 younger people and many adults who were happy and appreciative that he did.
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