CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Senior offensive lineman Michael Bennett of the Yale football team has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Jerry Nason Award, presented by the New England Football Writers.

The award was established in 1958 and honors a senior student-athlete who has achieved success in football against all odds. Bennett is the second player in Yale history to receive the honor and the eleventh from the Ivy League.

Bennett arrived at Yale in 2022 under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. He began his college career shortly after the passing of his father. While supporting his family from afar and adjusting to the demands of Ivy League academics and Division I football, he quickly emerged as a model of perseverance and integrity.

After earning a starting role as a sophomore and receiving All-Ivy Honorable Mention, Bennett continued his rise as one of the league's top linemen. He was named First Team All-Ivy and Phil Steele FCS Postseason Second Team All-League as a junior. He entered his senior year as a 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason First Team All-American and has started every game this fall while anchoring Yale's offensive line with consistency, toughness, and poise.

Off the field, Bennett has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to service. In high school, he developed an award-winning social venture that expanded access to youth sports for underserved communities.

Defined by resilience, character, and purpose, Bennett's story embodies the values that stand at the core of Yale football.