| Xavier Benson | Linebacker | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| HT/WT: 6-3/200 | |||
| HIGH SCHOOL: Pleasant Grove (Texarkana, TX) | |||
| OFFERS: Arkansas State, SMU, Texas Tech, Army, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, Tulane, Tulsa, Wyoming, Abilene Christian, Alcorn State, Cornell, Dartmouth, Incarnate Word, Prairie View A&M | |||
| RECRUITING SERVICE: | RANKING: | POSITION RANK: | STATE RANK: |
| Rivals |  5.6 |
N/R | N/R |
| Scout | |
106 | 133 |
| 24/7 Sports | 83 |
75 | 138 |
| ESPN | N/R | N/R | N/R |
| VIDEO: Hudl | |||
| CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8427 | |||
| PROFILE DATE: July 25, 2017 | |||
I am committing to Texas tech university #gunsup 1k pic.twitter.com/wZRD1utrhr
— Xavier (@Zayyy_Benson) July 24, 2017
RedRaiderSports’ Drew Kohnle spoke with Benson about his commitment and why he chose Texas Tech and where the coaches see him playing:
Benson was offered by the Red Raiders back in May and developed a strong relationship with new defensive line coach, Terrance Jamison. Benson met the rest of the coaching staff, such as David Gibbs and Zac Spavital, on his visit today. Each coach was glad to have the athletic linebacker on board.
“I was around almost all the coaches all day today. They were really excited when I told them I wanted to be a Red Raider. They love me as a player and are excited to get an athlete like me into their program. They think I can be a big-time playmaker for them. I was the number one guy for them at linebacker.”
“They see me as a OLB/DE-type. A hybrid position guy who can really just come in and make plays.”
Benson does very much appear to be a work in progress, but the fact that he already has a 6’3″ frame bodes well for how he’ll fill out over time. Benson has a nose for the ball and isn’t afraid to hit. His plays at receiver show his ability to make plays in the open field and he actually has a nice catch where he gets behind the secondary and just out runs everyone. If he plays the rush end, then he’ll have to add about 35 to 40 pounds. Benson appears to be a pretty smooth athlete, but not necessarily high on the quickness scale. Also a plus is how nice Benson is able to play in coverage. He looks natural doing that and I think that’s a pretty good trait to have along with those good hands at receiver and being able to pick off that pass in coverage.