2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 22 Days Part II (Malachi Holt-Bennett)

Written by Evan Orris

The 2021 Countdown! Only 22 days left until the Hoosiers travel to Iowa City to take on the #16 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. Today we will profile Malachi Holt-Bennett, the freshman receiver, and Deland McCullough II, the transfer safety.

Malachi Holt-Bennett

Birmingham, Ala.

Freshman

6’3”/ 180 pounds

Holt-Bennett signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Hoosiers in February. Although  he won’t receive much playing time this season, head coach Tom Allen sees the potential in the young receiver.

"Malachi is a gifted athlete who brings tremendous value to our football team. He is smooth and fluid, can play offense and defense, and we believe he will make an immediate impact." Allen said

The freshman wide receiver last played for Fairfield High Preparatory School in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala. There, Holt-Bennett played multiple positions including wide receiver, running back, defensive back, and even punter. His senior season he totaled 793 all-purpose yards. Meanwhile his junior year he caught 45 passes for 821 yards and nine touchdowns while also adding three interceptions as a defensive back.

Coming out of high school, Holt-Bennet was ranked the No. 12 prospect in Alabama and the No. 46 wide receiver nationally by 247sports.com. He was a four-star recruit also. In 2020, he made the ASWA 5A first-team all-state and first-team all-region honoree.

There is a chance that the lack of playing time might cause Holt-Bennett to be eligible for a redshirt year if he so chooses.