Benka-Coker Lands Four Power Four Offers
The Pennington School edge rusher received football offers from West Virginia, Michigan State, Missouri and Rutgers over two days.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Joshua Benka-Coker, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound class of 2027 edge rusher at The Pennington School in New Jersey, received four Power Four football offers on Thursday and Friday. West Virginia, Michigan State, Missouri and Rutgers each extended an offer, moving his recruitment from FCS level to the Power Four.
Why it matters
The offers mark a significant step for a prospect who transitioned from basketball to football and is now weighing Power Four programs. Benka-Coker has less than a month before he can sign with a program, making the coming weeks decisive for New Jersey recruits.
Benka-Coker stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 230 pounds, and received four Power Four offers across two days. The source does not specify how these offers compare with those of other class of 2027 edge rushers.
The players
Joshua Benka-Coker
A class of 2027 edge rusher at The Pennington School in New Jersey who previously played basketball before transitioning to football.
The Pennington School
A private preparatory school in Pennington, New Jersey, where Benka-Coker is enrolled as a class of 2027 student-athlete.
The details
Benka-Coker, a former basketball prospect, is scheduling official visits with Power Four programs after the offers. His transition to football drew interest from West Virginia, Michigan State, Missouri and Rutgers over the two-day window.
Timeline
Thursday: West Virginia and Michigan State extend offers to Benka-Coker.
Friday: Missouri and Rutgers extend offers, completing four Power Four offers.
Less than one month remains before Benka-Coker can sign with a program.
Season Trajectory
Benka-Coker's offers reflect a pattern in which multisport athletes who switch to football earn Power Four attention after moving up from FCS-level recruitment. The rapid accumulation of four offers in two days signals how quickly a late-developing edge rusher can shift the recruiting landscape.
Benka-Coker's four offers place him among the most actively recruited prospects in the state's class of 2027, and the signing window narrows his decision timeline. Families following New Jersey recruits should watch which programs advance to official visits before the deadline.
The takeaway
Late-developing multisport athletes can attract Power Four interest quickly, so recruits switching sports should keep their options open as signing periods approach.
What happens next
Benka-Coker is scheduling official visits with Power Four programs before he can sign, with less than a month remaining until the signing period.
Further reading
Explore more recruiting coverage in the Football section for New Jersey prospects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 247Sports.
