NCAA All-American Brian Benzing Enters Transfer Portal As A Grad Transfer

By Yanyan Li on SwimSwam

Towson University senior Brian Benzing, one of the best mid-major swimmers in the NCAA, has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer. He has one year of eligibility left, which is the fifth year of eligibility given to all swimmers that competed during the 2020-21 NCAA season.

SwimSwam has reached out to Benzing for further comment.

NOTE: A swimmer being in the transfer portal does not mean that they HAVE to transfer to another school, it only means that they have opened up communication with different schools and coaches.

Benzing finished the 2022-23 NCAA season ranked 15th in the country in the 100 breast, by virtue of the 51.25 he swam at the CAA Championships. He also holds the fifth-fastest 50 breaststroke split of all-time, having split a 22.54 on Towson’s 200 medley relay also at CAAs.

At the 2023 NCAA Championships, Benzing placed 15th in the 100 breast (51.48) and 48th in the 200 IM (1:45.45.).  He was one of the four men’s mid-major swimmers to score at NCAAs, with the other three being Air Force’s Wen Zhang, Princeton’s Ranuak Khosla, and Southern Illinois’ Ruard Van Renen. Notably, Van Renen is also in the transfer portal.

The highest that Benzing has placed at NCAAs was 13th, having swum a 51.66 to earn that finish back in 2022.

Benzing’s Best Times:

• 50 breast split: 22.54
• 100 breast: 51.25 (50.94 split)
• 200 breast: 1:55.33
• 100 fly: 46.25
• 200 IM: 1:44.41
• 50 free: 20.07
• 100 free: 43.63
• 200 free: 1:35.03

With the 100 breast last season being very senior and fifth year heavy (in fact, the 100 breast ‘A’ final at NCAAs was made up of only seniors and fifth years), many top teams will be losing their top sprint breaststroker, which makes Benzing a very valuable free agent. Some examples of teams in need of new breaststrokers include Texas, which loses Will Chan and Caspar Corbeau; Louisville, which loses Denis Petrashov; Cal, which loses Reece Whitley and potentially Liam Bell if he doesn’t take a fifth year; and NC State, which loses Mason Hunter and Giovanni Izzo.

Currently, the 100 breast appears to be Benzing’s only NCAA-scoring event, but he has the potential to develop in events like the 100 fly, 200 IM, and the sprint freestyles at a bigger program.

SwimSwam: NCAA All-American Brian Benzing Enters Transfer Portal As A Grad Transfer