This Oregon Ducks wide receiver could make a very strong impression at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Oregon Ducks will be placing a handful of players into the NFL this April, just like they always do. But do they have any under-the-radar guys who could potentially surprise some potential at the Scouting Combine?
Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire has put together a list of five Oregon players who could make some noise and boost their draft status in Indianapolis, and one of them was wide receiver Malik Benson.
"Now, with a chance to put his blazing speed and raw athleticism on display at the combine, it feels like the NFL world might take notice of Benson," Neel wrote. "At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Benson brings great size and unmatched breakaway speed to the table."
Benson bounced around quite a bit throughout his collegiate career.
The 23-year-old began his tenure playing JUCO ball at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, spending two seasons there before transferring to Alabama ahead of 2023.
Benson barely played for the Crimson Tide, logging just 13 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. He then transferred to Florida State where he caught 25 passes for 311 yards and a score in 12 games.
Malik Benson. Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.Finally, Benson moved on to Oregon and had a breakout campaign in 2025, hauling in 43 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the better receivers in the Big Ten this past season.
Of course, whether or not that translates to the professional level remains to be seen, but the fact that Benson averaged 16.7 yards per grab at Eugene is impressive.
The general consensus is that Benson will be a Day 3 pick this spring, and there could even be a chance that he goes undrafted altogether given the depth of this wide receiver class.
But there is no question that Benson could ultimately be one of the biggest sleepers at his position in this draft, and he could put that on full display at the Scouting Combine next Saturday when receivers are scheduled to perform.
With a good season in a tough conference under his belt, not to mention good size and blazing speed, Benson could be a big surprise.
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