Ja'Whaun Bentley

Last updated

Ja'Whaun Bentley
Jawhaun Bentley.png
Bentley with the New England Patriots in 2019
No. 8 – New England Patriots
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-24) August 24, 1996 (age 28)
Glenarden, Maryland, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:
College: Purdue (2014–2017)
NFL draft: 2018  / round: 5 / pick: 143
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles:509
Sacks:10.5
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:11
Interceptions:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ja'Whaun Louis Bentley (born August 24, 1996) [1] is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue. He was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. [2]

Contents

College career

A 3-star linebacker recruit, Bentley committed to play college football at Purdue over offers from Iowa, Marshall, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia, and West Virginia. [3] Bentley was a four-year starting linebacker and a three-time team captain at Purdue. As a senior in 2017, Bentley played in 12 games, starting 11, and recorded 97 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. [4] Bentley was named as an honorable mention All-Big Ten linebacker for his efforts in the 2017 season. [5] [6]

In 38 career games at Purdue from 2014-2017, Bentley recorded 272 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. [7] He was the defensive MVP of the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl. [8]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m)		246 lb
(112 kg)		32 in
(0.81 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.75 s1.66 s2.69 s4.40 s7.12 s29.5 in
(0.75 m)		9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		31 reps
All values from Pro Day [9] [10]

The New England Patriots selected Bentley in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. The Patriots acquired the pick in a trade that sent their third round pick (95th overall) to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth round pick (143rd overall) and offensive tackle Trent Brown. [11] Bentley was the 18th linebacker drafted in 2018.

2018

On May 12, 2018, the New England Patriots signed Bentley to a four-year, $2.76 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $303,954. [12]

Throughout training camp, Bentley competed against veteran Elandon Roberts to earn the job as the starting outside linebacker. [13] On August 16, 2018, Bentley recovered a fumble forced by Adrian Clayborn and returned it 54-yards for the touchdown in the Patriots' 37-20 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.. [14] Head coach Bill Belichick named Bentley a backup outside linebacker behind Elandon Roberts to begin the regular season. [15]

On September 9, 2018, Bentley made his professional regular season debut and earned his first career start alongside Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, recording seven combined tackles (four solo) and one tackle for-a-loss as the Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 27–20. In Week 3, Bentley recorded five combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and made his first career interception on a pass from Matthew Stafford that was intended for Luke Willson in a 26–10 loss at the Detroit Lions. [16] On September 26, 2018, the New England Patriots officially placed Bentley on injured-reserve, due to a torn bicep he suffered in the fourth quarter against the Lions. [17] [18] [19] Bentley ended his rookie season with 14 combined tackles (nine solo), one pass deflection, one tackle for-a-loss, and an interception in three games and two starts. [20]

Without Bentley, the New England Patriots finished the 2018 NFL season with an 11–5 record, finishing first in the AFC East. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-28 in the AFC divisional round and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 in the AFC Championship. On February 3, 2019, the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3 to win Super Bowl LIII. [21]

2019

Bentley returned in time for training camp in 2019 and competed to be a starting outside linebacker against Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts. Head coach Bill Belichick named Bentley the primary backup linebacker behind starters Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Jamie Collins. [22]

On December 15, 2019, Bentley recorded a season-high nine combined tackles (four solo) during a 34-13 victory at the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed his sophomore season with 43 combined tackles (29 solo), two tackles for-a-loss, and one pass deflection in 16 games and two starts. The Patriots finished the 2019 NFL season atop the AFC East with a 12-4 record, but lost to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wildcard Game.

2020

Bentley entered training camp slated as a starting linebacker and was required to lead the linebacking corps after the Patriots lost their top four linebackers from the previous season. Dont'a Hightower opted out of the season due to COVID-19 pandemic while Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts left via free agency. He was named the starting middle linebacker alongside outside linebackers John Simon and Brandon Copeland.

On October 18, 2020, Bentley made 12 combined tackles (eight solo), a season-high two tackles for-a-loss, and was credited with half a sack on Drew Lock marking the first of his career as the Patriots lost 12–18 against the Denver Broncos. In Week 8, against the Buffalo Bills, Bentley recorded his first full sack of his career on Josh Allen during the 24–21 loss. [23]

2021

Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Bentley changed his jersey number from 51 to 8 becoming the first Patriots player to use a new number with the new relaxed jersey number rule.

2022

On March 18, 2022, the New England Patriots signed Bentley to a two-year, $6.00 million contract extension that includes $3.90 million guaranteed upon signing and a signing bonus of $1.60 million. [24] He started all 17 games in 2022, recording a career-high and team-leading 125 tackles, along with three sacks, two passes defensed, and an interception.

2023

On June 29, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Bentley to a two-year, $13.50 million contract extension that includes $9.00 guaranteed upon signing and a signing bonus of $5.50 million. Bentley is signed to remain with the Patriots throughout the 2025 NFL season. [12]

2024

Bentley played the first two games for the Patriots in 2024, recording 12 combined tackles. In the team's Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. [25]

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References

  1. ↑ "Ja'Whaun Bentley Bio". Purdue Boilermakers Athletics. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Patriots' Ja'Whaun Bentley: New England selects in fifth". CBSSports.com. April 28, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Ja Whaun Bentley 2014 Inside Linebacker Purdue".
  4. ↑ "Ja'Whaun Bentley (MLB): Bio, News, Stats & more".
  5. ↑ "JaWhaun Bentley | Purdue, ILB : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Purdue in the NFL: Ja'Whaun Bentley sets career high".
  7. ↑ "Ja'Whaun Bentley (MLB): Bio, News, Stats & more".
  8. ↑ Clardie, Stacy (December 28, 2017). "Senior Bentley finishes strong, earns bowl defensive MVP". Rivals.com . Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  9. ↑ "2018 Draft Scout JaWhaun Bentley, Purdue NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Ja'Whaun Bentley 2018 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ Buchmasser, Bernd (April 28, 2018). "2018 NFL draft: Patriots select LB Ja'Whaun Bentley with the 143rd overall pick". PatsPulpit.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Spotrac.com: Ja'Whaun Bentley contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ Glen Farley (August 12, 2018). "PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Bentley's motor's been running". Patriotledger.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ Fox, Tanya Ray (August 17, 2018). "Watch rookie LB Ja'Whaun Bentley's 54-yard fumble return for TD". Patriots Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. ↑ Tyler Sullivan (September 9, 2018). "Patriots depth chart for Week 1". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Patriots vs. Lions – September 23, 2018". NFL.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  17. ↑ "New England Patriots lose former Purdue star Bentley to injury". JCOnline.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Patriots Place RB Rex Burkhead and LB Ja'Whaun Bentley on Injured Reserve; Announce Additional Roster Moves". Patriots.com. September 26, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ Fox, Tanya Ray (November 16, 2018). "Grading the Patriots rookies through the bye week". Patriots Wire. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Pro Football Reference: Jonathan Bentley". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  21. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (February 3, 2019). "Patriots defeat Rams 13–3 in Super Bowl LIII". NFL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  22. ↑ Tyler Sullivan (September 3, 2019). "Patriots Depth Chart 2019: Questions still surround receiver unit, roster heading into Week 1 vs. Steelers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  23. ↑ "New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – November 1st, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Patriots Sign LB Ja'Whaun Bentley and K Nick Folk". Patriots.com. March 21, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  25. ↑ Burton, Steve (September 17, 2024). "Ja'Whaun Bentley out for New England Patriots season with torn pectoral muscle, report says". CBS Boston. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
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