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Benton Smith was born in Kansas City, Mo., and bounced around in the years that followed, living in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Carolina, before moving to Lawrence in 2006. Along the way, he lived in Sanford, N.C., for a huge chunk of his life and graduated in 2002 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — an institution, he assures die-hard Kansas fans, which he attended primarily for its in-state tuition and journalism program. Shortly after moving to Lawrence, Smith began working part-time at the Journal-World, initially covering youth sports. Next, he covered Free State High athletics and area sports for the J-W, before taking on the position of sports editor for one of The World Company's weekly newspapers, The Mirror, in Tonganoxie. He worked there from 2008 to 2011, until returning to the Journal-World to lead its high school sports coverage. In 2013, Smith took on a new role with KUsports.com, as a digital editor, blogger and writer and that role changed again in 2016, when Smith was promoted to KU football beat writer.
Recent Stories
Les Miles wants to get KU football to point where Jayhawks don't need as many juco signees
When six junior college prospects signed with the Kansas football program this past December, it seemed new head coach Les Miles might be headed down a familiar recruiting path. By Benton Smith
Benton Smith: Devon Dotson breaks through on Big Monday for rare KU road win
Fort Worth, Texas — Ever since it became clear that winning away games could no longer be considered the foregone luxury that it typically is for Bill Self-coached teams at Kansas, the Jayhawks have searched for one of their role players to drag them out of their road stupor by becoming more of a leading man.
'He's been through it': KU coaches think highly of junior QB Thomas MacVittie
When Les Miles took over the long-struggling Kansas football program this past November and began making decisions about the roster’s most pressing needs, it became clear to him where to get started. “Offensively, it was we needed to have a quarterback. And Thomas MacVittie is that guy. He’s mobile. He can run it and throw it.” By Benton Smith
Miles announces recruiting-focused support staff additions
Wedd retained, now director of H.S. relations
Fresh off his first signing class as head football coach at the University of Kansas, Les Miles announced Monday some more additions to his support staff which figure to help the Jayhawks on the never-ending recruiting front.
4-star talent Steven Parker expected to contribute quickly
Even though Steven Parker will be at his lightest and least experienced during the upcoming 2019 season, Kansas football defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot foresees the signing class’s largest talent finding ways to make plays. By Benton Smith
Benton Smith: Ochai Agbaji has become key player for KU after just 10 games
Ochai Agbaji wasn’t supposed to play this season. The Kansas basketball team, it appeared, didn’t need the freshman guard from Kansas City, Mo. Sure, KU’s coaches loved his longterm potential. But Agbaji could take a redshirt year and the Jayhawks would be just fine without him, what with their McDonald’s All-Americans and returning players with Final Four experience. By Benton Smith
CB Justin Ford reopens recruitment
It doesn’t appear Justin Ford will end up joining the Kansas football program after all.
Les Miles sees some great potential in KU's 2019 recruiting class
On the second Sunday of December, new Kansas football coach Les Miles got his first commitment for the program’s 2019 recruiting class. By the first Wednesday in February, also known as National Signing Day in the college football universe, Miles was able to laud 19 prospects who will become a part of his debut season in Lawrence this coming fall. By Benton Smith
Notebook: Gavin Potter picks KU after showing up to signing ceremony in K-State gear
After his recruitment came down to the wire, Gavin Potter, a high school linebacker from Oklahoma, introduced himself to the Kansas football fan base in grand fashion Wednesday. By Benton Smith
Les Miles' first KU football recruiting class grows significantly on signing day
The first National Signing Day for Les Miles at the University of Kansas got off to an eventful start as the Jayhawks added another quarterback to their class.
