Ja'Whaun Bentley

Ja'Whaun Bentley was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

PRONOUNCED ja-WAHN

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Ja'Whaun Bentley was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (13/13)

• Elected defensive co-captain by his teammates for the first time.
• Started all 13 games that he played in and finished second on the team with a career-high 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended. Posted double-digit tackles in Week 6 vs. Denver (12) and Week 12 vs. Arizona (14). Was inactive due to injury at NY Jets (11/9), vs. Baltimore (11/15), and vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Started at linebacker in the season-opening vs. Miami (9/13) and registered five tackles.
• Started for the sixth time in his career, making one tackle and assisting on three other in Seattle (9/20). played all 63 defensive snaps.
• Helped out on four tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 3 home win vs. Las Vegas (9/27)
• Started at linebacker and delivered 6 total tackles in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5).
• Teamed up with Shilique Calhoun to record his first career sack in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18) that resulted in a 12 yard loss in the third quarter. Totaled 12 tackles, the most of his career, including 8 solos.
• Started at linebacker in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25). Made seven total tackles including five solos.
• Totaled five tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1). He was credited with his first full sack when he dropped QB Josh Allen for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter. He combined with LB Shilique Calhoun on a sack vs. Denver on Oct. 18.
• Was inactive due to injury Week 9 at the Jets (11/9) and Week 10 vs. Baltimore.
• Returned to action and the starting lineup in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22) after missing the last three games due to injury. Recorded five tackles and now has 100 career total tackles.
• Started at linebacker and posted a career-high 13 total tackles in a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). His previous best was 12 tackles vs. Denver on Oct. 18, 2020. He combined with DL Akeem Spence on a goal line tackle on Arizona RB Kenyan Drake to prevent a score as time expired in the first half. Played a key role in limiting Arizona to 298 net yards. They entered the game with the NFL's top ranked offense, averaging 414.3-yards per game and it was their second-lowest output of the season to the 262 yards at Carolina Oct. 4.
• Compiled six total tackles as a starting linebacker in a Week 13 win at the Chargers (12/6).
• Racked up nine total tackles in a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10).
• Started at linebacker and made three tackles in a Week 15 loss at Miami (12/20) before leaving the game due to injury in the first half.
• Was inactive due to injury Week 16 vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Returned to action after missing last week due to injury and finished with a team high seven total tackles in a Week 17 win over the Jets (1/3).

2019 (16/2, 1/0)

• Appeared in all 16 regular-season games with two starts and finished with 39 tackles, one pass defensed and five tackles on special teams as part of a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game).
• Contributed as a reserve on defense and special teams and made four defensive tackles in the AFC Wild Card loss vs. Tennessee (1/4).
• Made his first start of the season and finished with three tackles at linebacker and a special teams tackle in the win at Buffalo (9/29).
• Led the team with a season-high eight tackles in the win at Cincinnati (12/15). His second-quarter tackle on fourth-down led to a Nick Folk field goal that tied the game. Also made one special teams tackle in the game.

2018 (3/2, 0/0)

• Played in the first three games of the season with two starts and posted 13 tackles, one interception, one pass defensed and one special teams tackle before being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 26, after suffering an injury at Detroit (9/23).
• Made the start at linebacker in his first career NFL game in the victory vs. Houston (9/9) and combined for seven total tackles.
• Contributed in a reserve role at linebacker and finished with one tackle, while also contributing on special teams with one special teams tackle at Jacksonville (9/16).
• Started at linebacker and finished with five tackles and a pass defensed, while also recording his first NFL interception when he picked off QB Matthew Stafford to end the Lions first drive of the third quarter in the game at Detroit (9/23). The turnover led to a touchdown for the Patriots on the ensuing drive.

COLLEGE

• Played in 38 games over his four-year career at Purdue and registered 272 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
• Was a three-time team captain at Purdue.
• Appeared in 12 games with 11 starts as a senior and totaled a career-high 97 tackles, one sack, one interception he returned for a touchdown, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
• Played in nine games as a junior with eight starts and finished fifth on the team with 50 tackles and one pass defensed.
• Started the first five games of the season as a sophomore before injuring his knee at practice. Finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles despite missing the final seven games of the season.
• Started all 12 games as a freshman and recorded 76 tackles, one interception returned for 44 yards, one pass defensed and three fumble recoveries.

PERSONAL

• Four-year letter-winner in high school.
• Two-time first team all-metropolitan, all-conference and all-state as a junior and senior.
• Made 113 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception returned for a TD as a senior, helping lead his team to the WCAC championship.
• Recorded 116 tackles and six sacks as a junior.
• Played in Offense-Defense 2014 All-American Bowl.
• Recorded 10 sacks and one forced fumble as a freshman.
• Majored in organizational leadership at Purdue.

EXTRA POINTS

• Ja'Whaun Bentley was the first three-time captain in Purdue history.
• Ja'Whaun and his family had been homeless since his freshman year of high school, living with one set of grandparents, then the other, then an aunt. Bentley and his brother slept on couches and floors for periods of time of several years until Ja'Whaun entered the NFL and was able to secure permanent housing for his family.
• Bentley and Boston Celtics guard Carsen Edwards met as student athletes at Purdue in 2016. Bentley was a junior on the football team and Edwards was a freshman on the basketball team. The duo quickly formed a tight bond and have been close friends ever since.