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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
Notebook: Kansas WR Steven Sims makes another watch list
The most experienced and prolific skill player on the Kansas football roster entering this season, Steven Sims Jr. expects the Jayhawks to show significant progress offensively in the months ahead. Those who follow college football foresee Sims, a senior receiver, playing a starring role regardless. By Benton Smith
Notebook: Mike Lee notices key difference in KU defense this preseason
Currently going through his third preseason with the University of Kansas football program, safety Mike Lee feels better about the state of the team this August. By Benton Smith
Notebook: New KU football administrator to help remove 'roadblocks'
As Kansas football head coach David Beaty and his staff led players through their first few days of preseason camp, they learned a man with a long history of working with successful Power Five programs will soon join them. By Benton Smith
David Beaty 'proud' of how KU players, staff responded to Jacobi Lott's injury
A day removed from seeing offensive lineman Jacobi Lott leave practice in an ambulance, his Kansas football head coach and teammates shared Thursday what they could about the scene. By Benton Smith
Upcoming scrimmage expected to be critical stage in KU football QB competition
Six practices into preseason camp, the Kansas football team still has a three-man quarterback competition on its hands, with Thursday morning marking just the second session in full pads. As repetitions remain split between Peyton Bender, Carter Stanley and Miles Kendrick, their head coach, David Beaty, is eyeing an upcoming scrimmage as a likely moment of separation. By Benton Smith
Notebook: Clint Bowen anticipates using bench as motivator with KU defense
As the Kansas football team continues its preseason camp schedule, defensive coordinator Clint Bowen looks forward to having an essential inspirational factor of sorts at his disposal this season. By Benton Smith
KU freshman OL Jacobi Lott ‘stable’ after leaving practice in ambulance
A serious injury marred the Kansas football team’s fifth preseason practice, the first in full pads, on Wednesday morning. By Benton Smith
KU Kickoff to make stops in 4 cities
Before the Kansas football team makes its season debut Sept. 1 against Nicholls State, fans around the Sunflower State will have chances to hear from and meet some members of the program at a series of rallies this month.
Improved depth in KU's secondary has Jayhawks upbeat about group's potential
A couple of days into preseason camp, Kansas cornerback Hasan Defense could tell that the secondary in which he played didn’t resemble its predecessor. “Before we would get a lot of reps. Now you have to split up the reps. Obviously when your reps get taken you notice it A.S.A.P.,” Defense said. By Benton Smith
Jayhawks think freshman RB Pooka Williams can be 'dangerous' in open field
This past Saturday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, former Louisiana prep football star Pooka Williams was recognized at the Greater New Orleans Male Amateur Athlete of the Year during the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. It was an event, of course, Williams couldn’t afford to attend. Louisiana’s reigning Mr. Football, following Williams’ electrifying senior season at Hahnville High, now calls the Sunflower State home. By Benton Smith
