He played college football for South Carolina Gamecocks, earning third-team All-American honors in 1953.

He attended St. Matthews High School, graduating in 1950 before joining the University of South Carolina.

He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 and was described by The State as one of the top 50 greatest Gamecocks in 2017.

[2] Bennett was selected in the third round (28th overall) of the 1954 NFL draft by the New York Giants, but instead played for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

[1] Following the 1954 season, Bennett entered the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of Colonel.