Badger of Honor
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ex-Wisconsin Badger RB Michael Bennett Headed to Prison

By Noah Seligman

Sep 26, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; General view of the Wisconsin logo at midfield of Camp Randall Stadium prior to the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; General view of the Wisconsin logo at midfield of Camp Randall Stadium prior to the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Wisconsin Badger RB Michael Bennett faces prison time in California

I once saw high school sprinter Michael Bennett compete in a track meet at the Monona Grove Invitational.  The meet drew some of the fastest prep runners in Wisconsin.  Yet Bennett’s competitors appeared to be running in sand compared to the blur from Milwaukee Tech.

He still holds the WIAA Division 1 records in the 100-meter (10.33 seconds) and 200-meter (20.68) sprints.  But poor life decisions eventually caught up with Bennett even if track opponents never could.

According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bennett will serve five years in prison.  He pleaded “no contest” to felony “burglary and identity theft.”

"Michael Antwon Bennett, 38, was sentenced for charges related to a 2015 incident in which he fraudulently took out $225,000 worth of loans in the name of his girlfriend’s parents, according to the Sonoma County district attorney’s office."

The article notes Bennett was on probation for wire fraud in Florida at the time the felony burglary and identity theft occurred.  An ESPN article from 2012 describes a tax fraud effort by Bennett and associates in Florida.

"Court records show Bennett pleaded guilty last week to one count of wire fraud. As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend less than the possible 20-year sentence.The group allegedly cashed about $500,000 in fraudulent refund checks."

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Bennett played two seasons at Wisconsin.  He only had 57 carries for 298 total yards and 4 TDs during the 1999 season.  Bennett was the lightning to Ron Dayne’s thunder during the Badgers Rose Bowl winning season.  He was the bell cow back during the 2000 season, with 310 carries 1,681 yards, and 11 TDs.  He had 290 yards rushing on 28 carries and a pair of TDs in a memorable 27-23 Badger victory over Oregon.  Bennett had 258 yards in one half, which still is the program record for rushing yards in a half.

Bennett had a tremendous NFL Combine in 2001 vaulting him up NFL draft boards after running a a 4.38 40-yard dash and 39.5″ vertical leap.

He was selected 27th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, one spot after Wisconsin CB Jamar Fletcher went to the Miami Dolphins.  The Packers drafted Jamal Reynolds 10th overall in the draft so that’s a fun memory.  Bennett played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Vikings (five seasons), Kansas City Chiefs (two seasons), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (two seasons), San Diego Chargers (two seasons), and Oakland Raiders (one season).

Next: Wisconsin Badger Football: After Dark

He had 3,703 total yards on 842 carries, and 13 total TDs.  His career took a nose dive after his five seasons in Minnesota tallying just 529 total rushing yards in last six seasons combined.  Bennett’s best season was in his second year in the NFL, when he played all 16 games and amassed 255 carries, 37 receptions, 1,296 rushing yards, 351 receiving yards, and six TDs.