VANCOUVER – On the heels of a spectacular season that saw UBC Thunderbird
Theo Benedet earn the J.P. Metras Trophy as the top lineman in the country, the North Vancouver native has been selected to compete at the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
Set to be played at Allegiant Stadium – home of the Las Vegas Raiders – on February 2, the 98
th edition of the Shrine Bowl will see Benedet become the first Thunderbird to compete at North America's most top college level All-Star event since defensive lineman Nick Johansson in 2005.
"It's huge, I'm really happy to get the chance to represent UBC and our program," said Benedet who is currently in the midst of an intense preparatory training program in Knoxville, Tennessee. "I've always been really proud to be a Canadian athlete and play at a Canadian school. I have a little chip on my shoulder to go down there and show we can play too."
The vast majority of participants in the multi-day scouting showcase are United States citizens playing at U.S. post-secondary schools, further evidence of how impressive Benedet's past season was, and how he's catching the eyes of scouts and professional teams on both sides of the border.
"This is a platform that will bring more awareness to his skill set and his potential as an elite football player," said UBC head coach
Blake Nill. "He's earned this and will certainly take full advantage of it. He's got a God-given gift in his genetics and his athleticism but he certainly puts in the necessary effort. As he's matured and grown I think you've seen his focus shift from so many different avenues to football and school and when he's focussed on just those two you're starting to see his potential being hit."
Just the second Thunderbird to be awarded the J.P. Metras Trophy, Benedet was also named a 2022 First Team All-Canadian. The T-Birds boasted the top rushing offence last season thanks in large part to Benedet's efforts, helping lead UBC to their first Hardy Cup Final in four seasons.
"It's crazy how fast it's all come, basically a year ago nobody knew who I was," added the offensive lineman who becomes just the fourth Thunderbird in program history to play in a Shrine Bowl, joining Johansson, and fellow OL Bob Beveridge (1998) and Leo Groenewegen (1987). "It's an opportunity to get some eyeballs on myself and get my name out there. Obviously I believe in my abilities, I just want the chance to show people I can play."
The 6-foot-7, 305 pound graduate of Handsworth Secondary entered the 2022 Canada West season as the eighth ranked CFL prospect ahead of the 2023 Draft – the highest ranked player at a Canadian University. And while Benedet more than lived up to that billing, he elected to defer his CFL draft eligible status to next year which allows him to open up more potential doors.
"I can play in the Shrine Bowl and still go back to school so it's a no-lose situation. If I do really well and the NFL opportunity is there I can take it, or if the feedback is I need more development I can also head back to UBC and do that."
Benedet isn't the only member of the T-Birds to be turning heads south of the 49
th. Last week, fourth-year defensive lineman
Lake Korte-Moore played in the 2023 College Gridiron Showcase in Forth Worth, Texas, another high-profile scouting showcase.
"In my opinion, Lake is growing up a bit and starting to get a taste of what it's like to be one of the best players in the conference and maybe in the country," said Nill of the 6-foot-5, 262 pound Ottawa product. "While he's always had skill and the ability to be considered among the best, he never really performed to his potential until recently. He has more awareness of himself and he knows he has above average skills and if he can corral and continue his physical growth and his motivation to compete he's going to have a few things to say and you're going to see him turn into a very prominent football player at the next level."
It should come as no surprise multiple Thunderbirds are making noise across the continent in the lead up to this year's NFL and CFL drafts. It's a testament to the continued progression not only of the T-Birds program itself, but also the quality of competition in Canada West and across the country.
"We know what we're doing up here. All across Canada, our coaches know how to develop players, they know what the expectations are," added Nill. "Canadian players at all levels are improving, the game is evolving here. Specifically for our program, what this does in terms of Lake and Theo, it showcases to a very high profile what Coach (Joe) McCullum and his strength and conditioning team are providing along with the whole performance package available to athletes at UBC. You also have to give credit to their positional coaches with Coach (Shomari) Williams and Coach (Kirby) Fabien. If you watch those guys at their practices as they drive their athletes, you can understand why UBC is having representation at these elite events."
