Christopher Benjamin '16 Recruiting Profile

I have played football and loved the game since I was four years old.  As I grew and learned more about the game, it became my dream to play football at the collegiate level. Having grown up in Georgia, I have played football with some of the best in the nation all my life and I have always been a standout at all levels. My coaches have always been excellent and my coaches at St. Pius X Catholic High School are the best that any high schooler could be blessed to play under.  As a 9th grader (middle linebacker, guard, defensive end), after my Freshman schedule ended, I was moved up to Varsity.  My Sophomore year, I started every game on the Varsity as a defensive tackle.  This season, I have started every game as a defensive end.  During my Freshman season, we ended as State Finalists, as a Sophomore, we ended as State Quarterfinalists.  We ended the 2015 regular season as Region Champions, on an 8-game winning streak, and began the State Playoffs as a #1 seed.  We went on an exciting playoff run, winning straight through to the State Championship game where we lost to Nationallly Ranked, Buford High School (same as my freshman year!).  I am proud to have played on a Quarterfinalist and two State Finalist football teams.  I am looking forward to another Championship Run during my Senior Season.

During my three seasons at St. Pius I've learned to prepare completely, responsibility for assignments, and the work ethic of playing hard every play--never taking a play off!  Our strength and conditioning program is second to none.  We lift and condition year-round and during the school year, we lift at 6:05 am three days a week.  I'm learning from great coaches, play with great players, and I believe that I can be one of the best by the time I graduate from St. Pius. As a defender I take seriously my responsibility to "squeeze", "feather", come down-hill, play fast, and run to the ball.  I play with discipline, but with abandon; I love to tackle with a vengence, stripping, sacking, recovering, and making plays to help my team win!

Growing up in a house where both my parents have Masters from very honorable schools (and my father has a law degree), education has never been taken lightly. The importance of education has been stressed from the time I entered school. Starting with the 1st grade I have been put through a very rigorous academic curriculum, with college preparation as the ultimate goal.  I believe that my exposure to tough academic classes in high school has not only prepared me for college admission, but it has also prepared me to achieve under the rigors of academic and athletic responsibility at the collegiate level.  Not only do my actions on the field make me an asset to any team that I play on, but my actions off the field (Alter Server and volunteering with the homeless and the hungry), and the teammate that I am in the locker room are the actions of a player that every coach needs on his team. I have grown in high school and I will never embarrass my coach or my school.  I always place my team above myself and sell myself out for my brother on every play. I look forward to playing and learning in a program like St. Pius X where the personal and academic standards are set high, where there is a family atmosphere, and where winning is a tradition that everyone works toward.