Five things to know about new Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett, from ‘Mighty Mouse’ to Maryland standout

The Eagles acquired 24-year-old cornerback Jakorian Bennett from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV on Monday. The former 2023 fourth-round draft pick joins a crowded secondary group that includes Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Adoree’ Jackson, and Kelee Ringo.

After appearing in 24 games for Las Vegas with 11 starts over two seasons, the cornerback will compete for a roster spot on with the defending Super Bowl champions. From nearly quitting the sport to becoming a Maryland standout, here are five things to know about the Eagles’ latest addition …

According to Testudo Times, Bennett was a late bloomer. At 8-years-old, Bennett played youth football for the Eight Mile Giants in Mobile, Ala. As a linebacker, he developed an early love for the football’s physicality.

» READ MORE: Eagles acquire CB Jakorian Bennett from the Raiders in exchange for DT Thomas Booker

The only problem for Bennett was his size. As the smallest player on the team, he earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse.” He was still undersized when he joined the McGill-Toolen Catholic High School football team under head coach Caleb Ross.

“When he came to McGill his freshman year, and I’m not kidding, he was five-four, five-five, maybe 110 or 115 pounds,” Ross told Testudo Times. “We can’t let this kid practice. He’s going to get hurt. He may have to reconsider football altogether for his safety.”

Because of his size, Bennett was uncertain of his football future.

“I didn’t really think I was going to play college football,” Bennett told Testudo Times. “Of course I had aspirations because I love the game, but at the same time, I knew since I wasn’t the biggest, I wasn’t the fastest and all that, I knew my chances of going to play football in college and the NFL were kind of slim. I didn’t start, didn’t play at all.”

Ahead of Bennett’s senior year in high school, he was considering walking away from the sport. His high school defensive back coach T.J. McCord was one of the reasons Bennett decided to stay with football.

“Just kind of me only starting one year in high school, like those other years I wasn’t playing and wasn’t getting in the game, I was about to call it quits,” Bennett said after getting drafted by the Raiders. “And so, [Coach T.J] was just always there telling me not to quit, to stick it out. Just continue to grind, keep my head down to work. And still to this day, he’s always there for me and always there with me. I definitely appreciate him so much though.”

» READ MORE: The Bengals will play their starters in the preseason opener. Don’t expect the Eagles to do the same.

Bennett didn’t get his first start until his senior year in high school, where he recorded three interceptions, one of which was a 55-yard pick six.

Despite struggling earlier in his career, Bennett continued his football journey — eventually earning a spot on an NFL roster with the Raiders. McCord believes Bennett’s success is all thanks to one very important personality trait.

“Perseverance is one of his biggest attributes,” McCord told Pressbox Online. “When you do get a glimpse of success and you understand the work it takes to get to succeed, it basically becomes second nature. It is a grind.”

After a successful senior season in high school, Bennett still had no offers. Instead, he played two years at Hutchinson Community College — recording 25 tackles, three interceptions and three tackles for loss.

At Hutchinson, he earned first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference honors before eventually committing to Maryland in 2019 over Oklahoma, Nebraska, Mississippi State, and other schools.

In his second season with Maryland in 2021, he played in 12 of 13 games with the Terrapins. He quickly found success, leading all Power Five players with 16 pass breakups. He also led the team with three interceptions.

» READ MORE: This die-hard fan drives an Eagles-themed Uber around Philadelphia. On Monday, he met his favorite team.

That success continued into 2022, when Bennett led the nation with 29 pass breakups over two seasons.

“It’s been like a lot of ups and downs through this journey, but it’s what made me the person I am today and that’s why I kind of go into each day with that all-in mentality,” Bennett told Raiders Wire. “Just making sure that you check every box, making sure I’m just doing everything in my power to be the best version of myself. So, I’m definitely glad for that journey and all the things I had to go through because I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you if that didn’t happen. So, I definitely appreciate everything that I’ve been through to get me here.”

In 2022, Bennett played his final game with Maryland against North Carolina State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Heading into his last year, the cornerback had one goal in mind and that was to start turning his passes defended into interceptions.

With over two and a half minutes left in the game, NC State was marching down the field for a game-winning drive. However, Bennett had other plans in mind. To end the season — and his career in Maryland — he ripped the ball away from an NC State receiver and secured an interception to lead Maryland to a 16-12 victory.

“[Maryland] really changed my life,” Bennett told The Diamondback. “I knew I could change this program from the COVID year to last year to this year … it means a lot to see that all the labor that we’ve done has come to fruition.”

Bennett is now heading into his third season in the NFL. During his second season with the Raiders, Bennett was playing well before he had season-ending surgery for a torn labrum. In 10 games, Bennett recorded 26 tackles and eight pass deflections.

Now, the cornerback’s journey continues in Philly.