Illinois's Profile for Arrelious Benn

Arrelious is an early-entry declaree for the 2010 NFL Draft and a 2007 graduate of Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. where he caught 56 passes for 1,039 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior and also averaged nine yards a carry, rushing for three touchdowns. Benn helped to lead his team to four straight Turkey Bowls and he was the first player in Dunbar High School history to crack 1,000 yards receiving. As a junior, he caught 50 passes for 1,147 yards and 17 touchdowns and he averaged 23.1 yards per catch in 2005.

As a true freshman at Illinois in 2007, Arrelious was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the coaches and media and he also earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors from The Sporting News while catching 54 balls for 676 yards and 2 TDs, while also rushing 32 times for 158 yards, and returning a kick for a TD. In 2008, he caught 67-1055-3, rushed 23-101-2, returned 20 kicks for a 20.0 yard average and 15 punts for a 7.6 yard average. In 2009, he was injured and missed most of the first two games, but came back to post 38-490-2 as a receiver, 7-23-1 as a rusher, and continued to return kickoffs, but for a reduced average.

Elite size and strength for the position. Will win in most contested situations, and can easily beat the jam. Above average hands. Decent speed, and even though he played a lot of slot for the Illini can probably be an outside threat at the next level. Can adjust to the poorly thrown ball. Spend the 2009 season with an ankle issue, and so you've got to go back to 2007 and 2008 tape to see him at his best. Can return kicks and line up in the backfield and run the ball, so he does have some documented versatility to his game.

Played tentatively throughout 2009. Seemed unwilling to block (was he told not to?) this year, and that is a red flag, as is the injury issue itself. Not as explosive even when 100% as some of the other top wideouts in this draft. Not overly shifty or athletic. Looked willing to go down to avoid contact in '09 after being much more of a YAC threat in the past. All of his stats suffered this past season, even his KR average.

Late 2nd rounder who may slip to the 3rd if he doesn't impress in post-season workouts or appears to have a chronic injury issue.

User: packman0588
Date/Time: 01/4/2010 - 7:13PM CST
Predicted Round: Round 2

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