Utah Football: Jackson Bennee From Olympus Kid To Difference-Maker
Sep 10, 2025, 4:10 PM | Updated: 4:11 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s Jackson Bennee has a story– a local kid from Olympus High and a former walk-on that isn’t the prototypical story of a collegiate football player.
He joined the Utah football program last year and played special teams in all 12 games. Bennee has worked hard to elevate his game and has not only earned a role, but a role that seems to be expanding by the week.
Bennee is quietly staking his claim in Utah football’s 2025 campaign—one snap at a time.
Back on the road for 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟑‼️
🆚 Wyoming
🏟️ War Memorial Stadium
⏰ SAT 09.013 | 6:00PM MT
📺 CBSSN
📻 ESPN 700 / 92.1 FM#GoUtes | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/Szd1CtUDHk— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 8, 2025
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The Olympus kid is realizing his dream with Utah football
Bennee wasn’t much of a recruit in high school. He garnered modest interest at Olympus, which led to him walking on at Utah. Over the last year or so, Bennee has worked incredibly hard to become a reliable football player in the eyes of his coaches and teammates.
Kyle Whittingham, Morgan Scalley, Sharrieff Shah, Smith Snowden, and Tao Johnson are just a few who have all talked about Bennee’s development over the last six months.
For Bennee, becoming a player for the University of Utah is something he grew up dreaming about.
“I grew up a few minutes down the road at Olympus, and my dream was to play here,” Bennee said. “It’s exceeded everything I’ve ever dreamed of, so it’s been awesome.”
That dream, long nurtured in backyard practices and high school Friday nights, has transformed into a tangible impact at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The play extended the Utes’ streak of seasons with a pick-six to 22.
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— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 6, 2025
Bennee was responsible for extending Utah’s pick-six streak to 22 seasons, the longest in college football. While the thrill of playing for his hometown program is undeniable, Bennee’s focus remains firmly on growth.
Jackson Bennee focused on learning, improving from mistakes
“I was happy with a lot of things in the game,” he shared after Tuesday’s practice. “But a lot of the fans or people don’t see some of the mistakes I made. There’s definitely a lot of things I need to work on, and that’s what I’m focusing on this week.”
Mistakes, particularly in an early-season contest, aren’t setbacks—they’re lessons. At least, that’s the sort of mindset Bennee has embraced.
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“Better now than later, so it’s really valuable to me,” he shared. “Making mistakes out there definitely helps me really focus on what I did wrong and work to improve for this week.”
As Utah navigates the grueling Big 12 season, Bennee’s emergence is both symbolic and practical. For fans, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most compelling stories come from the players who earn every yard, every tackle, and every opportunity.
For Jackson Bennee, the Olympus kid who dreamed of wearing the Utah uniform, it’s proof that patience, hard work, and a focus on learning from every opportunity can turn a dream into a difference-making reality.
RELATED: Kyle Whittingham On Freshman QB Byrd Ficklin: “Poised, Handled Offense Well”
Utah Football Season Results
Utah Football 2025 Schedule
- Utah Football @ Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, September 13
- Utah Football vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, September 20
- Utah Football @ West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, September 27
- Utah Football vs. Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, October 11
- Utah Football @ BYU Cougars on Saturday, October 18
- Utah Football vs. Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, October 25
- Utah Football vs. Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, November 1
- Utah Football @ Baylor Bears on Saturday, November 15
- Utah Football vs. Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, November 22
- Utah Football @ Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, November 28
