At some point this summer, I had to admit to myself that I had overlooked Caden Bennett. He might not look the part, but Bennett is a legit defender. While he has more football ties—his father, Donnell Bennett, was an NFL fullback—Caden could easily choose lacrosse at the next level. He might not match up as well with straight-speed dodgers, but Bennett does a great job staying “sticky” against change-of-direction dodges, as one of his coaches described. You can see the football player in him with his crosschecks. He has extremely strong legs and can bully dodgers around if they try to beat him at his own game.

At NASG, Bennett impressed me in his matchups, especially with how he smothered dodges with crosschecks up the hashes and underneath on the wings. He also might qualify as a takeaway defender. He stays on hands, times his checks, and has some clip-worthy takeaway checks that you have to give him credit for. When the ball hits the turf, he gets it up and out well, and can even put it in the back of the net if you do not respect him.

Bennett is a powerful and fundamentally sound defender who plays with the strength and presence of a much larger player. Built with an excellent base and impressive balance, he uses his body effectively to control matchups and win physical battles. His stick skills and composure allow him to clear confidently and contribute in transition when needed. A multi-sport athlete with the potential to play Division I football, Bennett’s athleticism and explosiveness translate seamlessly to lacrosse. The son of former NFL fullback and Miami Hurricane standout Donnell Bennett, Caden brings toughness, poise, and pedigree to every defensive possession.