Advertisement
Advertisement
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 diehard 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 shortly after the World Company sold the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com to Ogden Newspapers.
Since the sale, Smith has become an even more important member of the KUsports.com team, expanding his coverage to include writing columns at men's basketball games and continuing to oversee our coverage of KU football, which included the hiring of Les Miles as KU's new head football coach in late 2018.
Recent Stories
KU football adding 8 freshmen, transfers to roster for spring
Some of the newest members of the University of Kansas football program already are moved in and ready to join the Jayhawks for the approaching spring semester.
Jayhawks clutch at foul line in rivalry win over K-State
Stephens scores career-high 22
Late-game execution and a whole lot of free throws keyed a Sunflower Showdown victory for the Kansas women’s basketball team Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Early enrollee QBs Conrad Hawley, Ben Easters already learning about KU's offense
Even before they packed up everything they will need to bring to Lawrence for their first semester at the University of Kansas, incoming freshmen Ben Easters and Conrad Hawley got a sneak peek at their new lives as KU football quarterbacks.
Veteran Julie Brosseau looking to bolster KU's 3-point shooting
After a home loss on Wednesday, the Kansas women’s basketball team will try to turn it around today against rival Kansas State — and the Jayhawks might have found another deep threat to help them out.
Jayhawks' shooting goes colder late in home loss to Texas Tech
A cold stretch in crunch time proved costly for the Kansas women’s basketball team Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Return of Tina Stephens important for KU ahead of home game vs. Texas Tech
Although the Kansas women’s basketball team ultimately came up short in an overtime road loss at TCU earlier this week, the return of senior forward Tina Stephens provided the Jayhawks with some optimism.
Former KU defensive back Corione Harris headed to McNeese
After three years playing for an FBS program at Kansas, defensive back Corione Harris plans to finish his college career at the FCS level.
KU women's basketball off the mark in narrow OT loss at TCU
Immediately following his team’s overtime loss at TCU Sunday afternoon, Kansas women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider almost couldn’t believe the Jayhawks had a chance to win, considering how many of their field goal attempts were off the mark.
Next stop in challenging season takes KU women's basketball to TCU
Kansas women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider, as well as his players, are doing their best to navigate through a strange season. The pandemic, COVID protocols and injuries, too, have wreaked havoc with the Jayhawks’ calendar.
Walk-ons will be among additions to KU football roster in 2021
As Kansas football head coach Les Miles and his staff continue trying to rebuild the program, they hope their next incoming recruiting class will end up including some helpful walk-ons.
