Parliament Profile: Common Bond, Uncommon Journey

In today’s era of college football, it is rare to see brothers share the field at the same time. It’s even rarer to see twins share the field at the same time. Even rarer: for it to be at the same school, for five seasons. 

That’s part of the legacy Garland and Gabriel Benyard continue to leave at Kennesaw State, where they have helped bridge the gap between the Owls’ FCS and FBS eras. 

They burst onto the scene in the fall of 2021, establishing themselves as key contributors for Kennesaw State. 

Garland, just barely two minutes older than his brother, was named 2021 Big South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year and made his first collegiate start on Oct. 23 of that season against Campbell. A game that ended up being big for both brothers. 

“That was the game with my first touchdown too,” Gabriel added. 

In the FCS Playoffs First Round that season, Gabriel became the first player in the history of Kennesaw State football to house-call a punt for a touchdown, leading KSU to a 48-21 rout of Davidson. 

“It means a lot to me and just going out and executing what we did in practice,” he said. “You just have to catch the ball, make sure it’s clean and I credit all 10 guys in front of me that blocked for me.” 

One of those 10 guys on that play – his older brother, who added “I’m a part of history too.” 

“It was fun, we celebrated together,” Gabriel said. 

The next few years saw continued success for the duo, with Gabriel earning 2022 All-Atlantic Sun Special Teams honors and Garland leading the defense in sacks and tackles for loss in KSU’s first FBS season in 2024. 

With new head coach Jerry Mack on staff this season, the brothers look to close out their college football chapters the same way they started: with success and gold. 

“We have a fresh start with this new staff and we feel like we have to prove everybody wrong this season,” Gabriel said. “We want to go out and show everybody what we can do.” 

“Every year, KSU gets seen as the underdogs and that’s something we don’t take lightly,” he added. “We just have to push each other better and do it on a daily basis and just stay in that mindset.” 

Pushing each other to be better is not new to the two, having grown up in Ocilla, Ga., just over 200 miles south of Kennesaw. 

“Football caught our eye and we just took advantage of it growing up,” Garland said. “We knew we had the athletic ability to go and play at the Division I level and now we’re here.” 

One ‘new normal’ in today’s college football is the volatile transfer portal. After a football leadership change last fall, the brothers entered the portal. But something not common in this ‘new normal’ - and thanks to Mack and his staff – Garland and Gabe exited the portal, deciding to remain with Kennesaw State. 

“Coach Mack called me one day and really laid down the foundation of where he’s headed and how he wanted to improve the football team as a whole,” Garland said. “He was very transparent, and he has a very bright vision and knows what he’s doing as a coach.” 

One piece Mack brings to KSU is a new offensive scheme, something that really attracted Gabriel to remain in an Owl uniform. 

“We talked with Coach Mack and I talked to offensive coordinator Mitch Militello about the offensive,” Gabriel said. “It just stuck with me and that it was going to be fast and physical; I just really wanted to come back and, after the spring and getting to run it, I really liked it.” 

On the defensive side, the 2021 Big South Defensive Freshman of the Year has high praise for his new defensive coordinator, Marc Mattioli. 

“He’s definitely got some swag to him,” Garland mentioned, echoing fellow defender Marcus Patterson. “He holds players accountable and you trust what he has you doing out there on the field.” 

These new takes on Kennesaw State football schemes will be part of the brothers’ final season of college football and potentially closing out an era they’ve known since they were little. 

“Growing up, we had very wholesome moments of just being on the same team for over 17 years,” Garland added. “We have a very strong chemistry and strong connection when it comes to sports. Whether it’s on the court, the diamond or the football field we just knew what the other was doing without even having to tell each other.” 

The Benyards grew up playing football, basketball and baseball but the varying fields of play never changed their mindsets. 

“Growing up we would always push each other to be great,” Gabriel explained. “It was always about making each other better every day and getting better, whether it was lining up against each other or being on the same side. It was fun to do that for all those years and now to do it in college.” 

With Garland playing defense and Gabriel on offense, there were even times they went head-to-head on the practice field. Both agreed it could get “pretty competitive” but was always in good fun, and with the same idea to make the other better. 

“My biggest takeaway from this journey was the bond,” Gabriel concluded. “The best part about this was doing it with my brother and we’ve been through a lot together. Injuries, bad plays to celebrating after big wins.” 

And while the bond may journey away from Owl Nation as they live successful lives after college, they both have legacies made (and more to add) at Kennesaw State in 2025. 

Garland and Gabriel suit up for the Black and Gold on Friday, Aug. 29 in the season opener at Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on the ACC Network. KSU hosts Merrimack on Saturday, Sept. 13 inside Fifth Third Stadium for the home opener on ESPN+. 

The two are set to graduate in December with Garland earning his degree in interdisciplinary studies and Gabriel earning his degree in sport management. 

2025 KENNESAW STATE FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS   

Season tickets for the 2025 Kennesaw State football season are on sale now! Home games include contests against Merrimack (Sept. 13), Arkansas State (Sept. 20), MTSU (Sept. 27), Louisiana Tech (Oct. 9), UTEP (Oct. 28) and Missouri State (Nov. 22). Click here for more info on tickets for Jerry Mack's first season as head coach of KSU football.    

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