MKRob Sports

McEachern High School running back Rajaan Bennett, one of Vanderbilt’s top football recruits for 2010, was shot to death by his mother’s ex-boyfriend, according to police in Georgia. Bennett was the apparent victim of a murder-suicide after an incident at his home involving his mother’s ex-boyfriend Clifton Steager.

Police were called to the scene in Powder Springs, Ga., and heard shots fired. An official said inside the home were the bodies of Steager and Bennett. Bennett’s uncle, Taiwan Hunter, was wounded and underwent surgery. He was in serious condition Thursday afternoon. It was not clear what prompted the shooting.

Bennett was ranked 246^th best prospect by Rivals.com’s after rushing for 1,857 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was the first member of the Rivals 250 to ever sign with Vanderbilt. Bennett also had offers from Tennessee, Louisville, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

“You just want to move the clock back a day,” said Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson. “It’s just horrible to deal with.”

Johnson was upset as he addressed the media, fighting back tears at one point.

“We heard the news early this morning and it’s just hard to believe, to tell you the truth,” Johnson said. “He just seemed to be the ideal young man for Vanderbilt, for college football to tell you the truth…He was really a family person and if you could see him interacting with his mother and his brother and sisters, you knew he was trying to protect them in the end. We’re gonna miss him. I really don’t know what else to say.”