EUGENE -- Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson's football career has seen more than its share of uncommon twists and turns.
He's played for four programs during a five-year journey that has included a national playoff appearance, a head coach's retirement, a disastrous season and the loss of academic credits.
About 10 months ago, Benson thought that by the fall of 2025, he would be playing in the NFL. Instead, Benson is making the most of his final stop in college and is more than pleased with how things have gone with the No. 8 Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten).
"Not only am I playing at the Division I level," he said. "I've been able to play at the highest level of Division I at some very good programs."
As a child, Benson dreamt of playing for an elite football program. He ended up doing so three times over. It's safe to say that Benson is the only college football player in history to play for Alabama, Florida State and Oregon.
His trek has experienced several ups and downs, starting with his admitted lack of academic seriousness.
A star at Lansing High in Missouri, Benson had plenty of Division I college interest, but not the grades. His college career began in junior college.
"I didn't lock into doing homework on time, things like that," Benson said.
Benson promised his mother, Cherri Benson, that he could buckle down, get good grades and see where that took him. He got it turned around academically at Hutchinson CC in Kansas, where Benson also dominated as a receiver. His 1,229 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 earned first-team NJCAA DI All-America honors.
The result was a Who's who of schools chasing Benson. Among those were Oregon, where Benson made his first official visit in May 2022.
Ultimately, Benson chose his "dream school", Alabama, to play for coach Nick Saban with the hope of winning a national title. Benson played a minor role for the Tide in 2023, catching 13 passes for 162 yards in a season where Alabama reached the CFP semifinals.
Just as Benson thought his role would increase in 2024, he was hit with a curveball: Saban announced his retirement. The news shook Benson.
"I built a really good relationship with him," Benson said.
Uncertain about Alabama, Benson entered the transfer portal. The coaches who he was closest with at Alabama were leaving.
"Looking back on it now, if I would have thought about things, maybe things would have been different," Benson said.
Enter Florida State, a team coming off a 13-1 campaign with the look of a CFP contender. It was an opportunity, as the Seminoles were looking to replace their top two receivers in Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson.
Benson figured he could provide big-play ability as a "speed guy" for a winning team, even though FSU was losing star quarterback Jordan Travis.
It scarcely could have went worse. FSU went 2-10 as the offensive play went south. Benson was second on the team in receptions (25) and receiving yards (311).
"That year of us going 2-10, that didn't reflect on any of the hard work I feel like we put in," he said.
Benson waded through the mess of a season as best he could, ignoring negativity, especially on social media, and working toward his goal of reaching the NFL.
"I had to block out all the noise and keep getting better and better," he said.
With four years of college on his resume, Benson was at a crossroads following the 2024 season. NFL draft, or one last run at college? He considered remaining at FSU, but it was a program with much uncertainty. Benson revisited the possibility of playing at Oregon.
Benson had built a positive relationship with Lanning and the UO coaching staff during his 2022 visit. At the time, he wasn't too keen on moving so far away home in Missouri.
Now older, Benson decided that moving out of his comfort zone would be good for him.
"It made me really have to develop as a young man," Benson said.
In researching Oregon, Benson learnied the Ducks were losing two key wide receivers, Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden. Benson began building a relationship with UO quarterback Dante Moore, who hosted Benson during his visit following entering the portal.
What ultimately sold Benson was Lanning, who came from the Saban coaching tree and someone he saw Saban-like qualities. They run the same type of practices and demand the same level of excellence from themselves and the team, according to Benson.
"To me, the greatest college football coach is Nick Saban," Benson said. "So, especially since I already played at Alabama, and I know what it takes, I need a coach that also knows what it takes, and is going to hold us to that standard. I wanted to play for someone under that tree."
Benson committed to Oregon last January, telling Lanning he wanted to play for a national championship contender.
"That's the thing I was missing," Benson said. "No matter stats or anything, the most important thing to me is the national championship because this is a team game."
For that to happen, Moore had to elevate his play after struggling at UCLA in 2023 and then backing up Dillon Gabriel at UO in 2024.
Benson said Moore's decision to sit as a backup at Oregon and put in the work impressed him. He also liked the Ducks' offense and history of producing big numbers.
"Throughout my history, it's been nice jerseys and deep balls in a very explosive offense," Benson said. "A place like this is going to let me showcase my speed and the type of receiver that I am."
Away from football, Benson said he's enjoying the state's beauty and noted that the relatively quiet Oregon campus allows him to avoid distractions and lock in on school and football.
Helping Benson adjust to Eugene is his younger brother Emmanuel, who is his roommate and keeps him well fed.
"He likes to cook," Benson said.
Benson's speed and veteran acumen have benefited the Ducks' offense. Through six games, Benson has 17 receptions for 256 yards, and his 15.1-yard per catch average leads the team. He was the centerpiece of Oregon's big play in last Saturday's 30-20 loss to Indiana, making a 44-yard touchdown catch.
Benson's fit with the team extends beyond on-field production. Lanning said Benson's leadership skills shine as he often the guy running over to helping a teammate off the ground.
"He's gonna be one of these guys that regardless of who scores the touchdown, if it's him or somebody else, he's celebrating it like he just scored," Lanning said.
Benson's lively personality has also been felt.
"Malik's a ball of energy," linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. "He shows up to the field with a smile on his face all the time, which I think is important."
Benson is also one who talks a lot.
"He's always talking crap out on the field with a smile on his face," Boettcher said. "And I love his energy. It rubs off on everyone the right way."
During a meeting, Lanning told Benson that he wanted the wide receiver to be himself.
That meant a lot to Benson, a naturally talkative and lively person who said he seeks to use his personality to uplift others and his vast experience to mentor younger players when needed.
"No matter if we're playing checkers, I've gotta talk, I've got to try to get into my opponent's head," Benson said. "In practice, when I have guys like Bryce that talk back, I love the juice. I love that this is the type of team that we are."
It's safe to say that Benson is the only college football player in history to play at Alabama, Florida State and Oregon. That experience has value.
"I've seen a lot," Benson said. "So, even though I haven't had the production that I've wanted up until this point in my career, I'm still able to be that older vet that has seen everything."
Pursuing a degree is one downside of transferring three times, and to FBS programs in three different conferences. Benson said he could have graduated long ago had he stayed put at Alabama. Instead, he lost credits with each move and had to retake some classes. He has changed his major at each stop.
The aggravating process will pay off following the fall quarter when Benson said he will receive a Sociology degree.
"I'm glad it's almost done," he said.
Around the time Benson receives his degree, he hopes to be in the running for a national championship with the Ducks, especially with how badly last season went with FSU.
"It's been a blessing, just my journey in general," Benson said. "Really just being here. I thought I was going to end my college career at 2-10."