Tulsa World: Up close: Cory Bennett

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Up close: Cory Bennett

Cory Bennett, tackling UNT quarterback Daniel Meager last season, is a fixture on the defense. Tulsa World file

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 9/4/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 9/4/2008 2:51 AM

NORMAN — Cory Bennett has been a cog in Oklahoma's defense for a long time.

He started his first game, in fact, in the 2005 season opener against TCU, alongside Remi Ayodele. He started the '06 opener next to Carl Pendleton. Bennett gave way to Gerald McCoy and DeMarcus Granger to start '07, but remained a mainstay in OU's defensive interior all season, a sack here, a pass break-up there, with a couple forced turnovers thrown in.

Bennett was there again last Saturday against Chattanooga, helping collapse the Mocs' middle as part of OU's four-tackle rotation. It was an ideal beginning — Chattanooga totaled 36 yards and a pair of first downs — to the fifth-year senior's final fling.

Bennett has never been a headliner. He will leave the attention to McCoy, Granger and the linebackers behind him, and be just fine with tying up blockers and clogging lanes, something he is accustomed to doing.

Are you OK with doing the dirty work?

We're going to have to get dirty anyway. But yeah, tackles can make some plays. That's the plan, to contribute any way we can. Making plays doesn't necessarily mean getting a tackle. You can make plays just by putting pressure on the quarterback, getting him rattled. And then he's throwing interceptions to the linebackers or the secondary. That's making plays also.

Is this the best D-line in the country?

I try not to engage in that kind of conversation. Because once you think you've arrived, that's when you get careless or reckless. That's one thing that makes people forget about working hard. We know it's out there, but for the most part, we try not to pay attention to it.

What will you be doing in 10 years?

If everything goes as planned, I'll be in the FBI doing something. That's my goal.

What got you interested in that?

When I was little, my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said, 'I want to be a policeman.' And then as I got older I wasn't sure it was that cool of a job. Then I got up here and I was a little unsure of what I wanted to do. I started taking a bunch of sociology classes, and I ended up being a criminology major. I was like, 'Shoot, I'm really considering doing this.'

In fact, I interned this summer with OUPD. Man, I'm so into it. All I had to do was intern a week. I felt that good about it.

What was the coolest thing you did during your internship?

Going out on some of those DUI runs. Getting to see what they do to actually get a person on a DUI. It's funny how people think they're not as drunk as they really are. The tests will expose you real quick.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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