HOUSTON — What seemed likely is now official: Michigan football's defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny has been ruled out of Monday night's national championship game vs. Washington at NRG Stadium.
Benny, a 6-foot-4, 296-pound junior from Detroit, left the first quarter of last Monday's 27-20 OT Rose Bowl win over No. 4 Alabama with an injury to his lower leg and was seen leaving the locker room postgame on crutches with his right foot completely wrapped.
He was not at U-M's media day availability on Saturday in downtown Houston, nor was he at the Wolverines' practice later that afternoon. A team spokesman told the Freep earlier this week the plan was for Benny to travel to Houston.
MICHIGAN VS. WASHINGTON: CFP prediction and scouting report for national title game
Benny, the No. 4 or 5 defensive tackle in U-M's rotation behind Kris Jenkins , Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — he's taken equivalent snaps to Cam Goode — has 27 tackles (13 solo), which includes 5½ for loss, a forced fumble, a sack and one batted pass.
Benny shared Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this season: vs. Bowling Green, Indiana and at Penn State .
"Unfortunate injury," defensive coordinator Jesse Minter told reporters on Saturday. "I think he'll come out of it well down the road. But yeah, tough deal for him — and I look forward to getting him back down the road."
Not only is Benny, who's played 30 games with one start, listed as "out" on U-M's availability report along with offensive lineman Zak Zinter and running back Cole Cabana , but defensive back Quinten Johnson is listed as questionable.
Defensive back Makari Paige played limited snaps in the second half against Alabama as he appeared to leave with a lower body injury. His ankle was heavily wrapped at practice on Saturday − it was hard to tell how active he was going to be since U-M wasn't in pads and the vast majority of what was available to media was stretching and individual work. But he told the Freep "you'll see me on Monday."
Paige, a junior West Bloomfield alum, has 38 tackles, two passes defended and a fumble recovery on the year.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M football availability report: DT Rayshaun Benny out for title game
