Illini Sports Blog

Little brother is role model in this family

Arrelious Benn
Arrelious Benn. By Cary Frye
The role reversal began one night during Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn's freshman year at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C.

Police and ATF agents arrived at his family's door looking for Trulon Henry, the oldest of five sons to Denise Benn. When Henry was convicted of robbing a grocery store and sent to a Glenville, W.V., prison, Arrelious Benn had to repair the family's reputation and take on more responsibility with three younger brothers in the household.

"I had to be the big brother and the man of the house," Benn said. "I had to be a role model for them. There was no father figure. I just wanted to show them there is hope to do what we wanted to do."

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