St. Joseph Catholic School star running back Trey Benson already knew he had verbally committed to the University of Oregon last week. Benson felt so comfortable in Eugene, in fact, that he told the coaching staff before he left.
But, it was not until he got off the plane back in the South that he let the world know. Benson’s close friends and family knew first. Then Benson told college football fans everywhere on Twitter that he had chosen the Ducks over finalists Florida State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri, Penn State and Vanderbilt.
“They are good people at Oregon, and I know it is the place I want to be,” Benson said. “I know I can get a good education there, and I know that I can be comfortable there.”
Benson said he will officially sign with the Ducks in December.
A big reason why Benson said he made the decision to attend Oregon so soon was to get the decision over with.
Ever since the spring, Benson, along with the phone of his All-Star teammate Dillon Johnson, has been ringing off the hook from college coaches coveting his talent.
“This lifts a huge burden off my shoulders,” Benson said. “I now can concentrate on getting ready for my senior year.”
One of the other big reasons Benson said he chose Oregon was to expand his life experiences.
“I want to step outside of my comfort zone,” Benson said.
Last season, Benson helped lead the Irish to their second straight state championship. Benson and Johnson hope to three-peat in the fall. Benson finished last year rushing for 1,833 yards and 22 touchdowns.
St. Joseph head coach John Baker said he was proud of how Benson handled himself throughout the recruiting process.
“He is going to a great school, and a big school where he will be on TV every Saturday,” Baker said. “He is going to be good there and I like that he got it over with before the football season begins.
