Rutgers running back Ja'shon Benjamin is on a mission this offseason—and it's not just about piling up yards on the ground. The Pahokee, Florida native has been a steady, reliable presence in a deep Scarlet Knights backfield over his three seasons, but now he's focused on rounding out his game to become a true all-purpose weapon.

The key area of improvement? Pass blocking. It may not be the flashiest part of a running back's job, but it's one of the most critical. Benjamin has watched teammates like Kyle Monangai set the standard in recent years, and he's determined to follow suit.

"That's what I'm trying to focus on every day," Benjamin said during spring practices. "Every time I've got to block someone, I focus on the details (running backs) Coach (Damiere) Shaw taught me."

At 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, Benjamin has already proven he can produce when called upon. Last season, he rushed for a career-high 328 yards on 68 carries (4.8 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, adding four catches for 19 yards. His breakout moment came in Rutgers' 27-24 win over Purdue in October, when he rumbled for 78 yards to complement Antwan Raymond's 116-yard performance on the ground.

But with Raymond emerging as the Big Ten's latest 1,000-yard rusher, Benjamin knows his path to more playing time runs through the passing game—both as a receiver and as a protector. Head coach Greg Schiano has taken notice of Benjamin's self-awareness and work ethic.

"One thing is, he's very, very smart and self aware," Schiano said. "Benjie's got tremendous hands, he's a really good receiver. But if you get in there and you have to pass protect, the play goes to junk in a hurry if you can't get the running back to handle the linebacker."

Benjamin doesn't have to look far for inspiration. He's studied how former Rutgers running backs Sam Brown and Aaron Young developed into well-rounded contributors, and he's applying those lessons to his own game. From understanding how to chip defensive ends to helping tackles in protection, every detail matters.

For a player already known for maximizing his opportunities, this offseason focus could make Benjamin an even more versatile—and valuable—piece of the Scarlet Knights' offense. Whether it's catching passes out of the backfield or standing up a blitzing linebacker, he's determined to be ready for whatever comes his way.