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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
SouthernPigskin.com was on hand as Bolles School offensive lineman Brent Benedict signed his letter of intent to play college football at the University of Georgia. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida is no stranger to producing top-level college talent. Offensive linemen Brent Benedict is the next in line. Benedict signed his letter of intent with the University of Georgia on Wednesday. Despite suffering a major knee injury last season, Benedict is regarded as one of the premier offensive line recruits in the nation. Both Rivals.com and Scout.com rate him as a four-star recruit.
The 6'5'', 280 pound lineman chose the Bulldogs over numerous other offers from regional powers.
"I looked at a bunch of different schools, Florida, Georiga, Clemson, South Carolina and a bunch of ACC schools. I went around and looked and Georgia just felt like the best fit for me," he added.
In the end, Benedict's relationship with the Georgia coaches proved to be the difference.
"I've spent a lot of time with them being up there and them coming down to the house, especially coach Searels, coach Lilly, they're both great guys and people that my parents like and I get along with and I could see myself playing for the next four or five years," Benedict explained.
Playing in the SEC, college football's top conference, is a challenge the Bolles product is very much looking forward to. Like many UGA players, Benedict is excited about playing the Gators.
"I'm very excited about it, the rivalries," he explained. "Being able to play Florida every year, that's going to be great here in Jacksonville. Athens is about an hour and a half from where I grew up so I'm very excited about it."
The signing day press conference at The Bolles School was quite the scene as two of Benedict's football teammates signed letters of intent to Rutgers and Wake Forest respectivelly. One track and field star signed with The Citadel and a girls soccer played inked with Florida. The players made their verbal commitments official in front of hundreds of their fellow students, teachers and media.
"It's awesome. I had a ton of friends and family come out and that was great. It was exciting to see people out there who are glad and happy for me," Benedict continued. "It was a lot of hard work and it's great to see it pay it off today. It's awesome, it's a great feeling."
Benedict's upside is enormous as he will bring elite physical skills and a tenacious attitude to Athens. Depending on how we recovers from a knee injury, the four-star prep prospect hopes to play right away.
"I'm hoping to contribute as early as possible, whatever that means. If that's a redshirt year, a medical redshirt depending on my knee surgery and all that stuff. I'm going up there to play and that's what I'm shooting for."
Benedict will head back to Georgia from the Sunshine State this summer.
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