Jackson Bennett

Jackson Bennett (born January 5, 1996) is a professional Canadian football running back for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football with the Ottawa Gee-Gees from 2014 to 2017. University career Bennett played in 23 games for the Ottawa Gee-Gees in 2014, 2016, and 2017 as a defensive back and linebacker. Following shoulder surgery in August 2015, he sat out the 2015 season. Over those three seasons, he accumulated 89 solo tackles, 39 assisted tackles, one sack, and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He was also featured on punt and kick returns, recording 40 kick returns for a 26.3-yard average with two touchdowns and 19 punt returns for a 10.0-yard average. In his final year with the Gee-Gees in 2017, he was named an OUA First Team All-Star on defence, an OUA Second Team All-Star on special teams, and was named the University of Ottawa Male Athlete of the year. Professional career Hamilton Tiger-Cats Bennett was drafted as a defensive back in the second round, 11th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2018 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 20, 2018. He made the team following training camp and played in his first CFL game on June 16, 2018, against the Calgary Stampeders as a backup defensive back. In his first game, he returned three kickoffs for a 25.7-yard average. He recorded his first special teams tackle during the following game against the Edmonton Eskimos on June 22, 2018. He spent time on the injured list in 2018 and played in 11 games, recording eight special teams tackles. He earned his first career start, playing at the cover linebacker position, where he recorded three defensive tackles and one sack.