#30 Patrick Benoist Season 2007-08

2009
Benoist served as defensive co-captain in final Commodore season… Started first 11 games at linebacker, missing the final game of career (at Tennessee) due to concussion suffered against Kentucky… Ended career with 29 starts in 41 career appearances… Known for being a coach on the football field, with superb knowledge of defensive responsibilities… Remarkably consistent, posting at least six tackles in nine straight games… Contributed season-high 13 tackles vs. Mississippi State… Finished second on team with 85 total tackles and among leaders with 42 solo stops… Ranked among SEC Top 10 in total tackles… Matched career high in solo tackles (7) at Florida… Also added quarterback sacks at LSU and Florida… Contributed to victory over Rice with seven-tackle, one-interception effort… Named team[apos]s defensive player of the week after Florida performance… Also served on team[apos]s leadership council.

2008
In first full year as starter, Benoist put together a superb campaign at linebacker, finishing the year ranked among the Southeastern Conference[apos]s top tacklers… Started every game at WLB, concluding with career highs in solo tackles (48), total tackles (109), tackles for loss (6.5) and defensed passes 5)… Second Team All-SEC pick by coaches and writers… Also concluded two QB sacks and a fumble recovery for the Commodore defense… Paced the Commodores in total tackles during the regular season… Consistent performer, providing at least five tackles in every game, topped by four double-digit tackle efforts… Named Bronko Nagurski Trophy[apos]s National Defensive Player of the Week honors and added weekly recognition from league office after 15-tackle, 2-tackle for loss, 1-QB sack effort to spark Commodores[apos] 24-17 early season win over nationally ranked South Carolina… In victory over Auburn, Benoist added 13 total tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss… Shared team defensive player of the week honors after both South Carolina and Auburn wins… Also had nine total tackles, including career-best seven solo stops, in narrow loss at Mississippi State… Had nine total tackles, a QB hurry and defensed pass in victory over Boston College in Music City Bowl.

2007
Played in nine games as outside linebacker… After recovering from preseason foot injury, moved into starting role by midseason… Concluded season with four starts… Ended year with career single-highs of 18 solo tackles and 32 total tackles… Four-sack total tied for second among [apos]Dore defenders… Also credited with three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and recovered fumble… First career start came against Georgia… Superb play in road win at South Carolina – four solo tackles, six total tackles, a QB sack and forced fumble – resulted in sharing team[apos]s Defensive Player of the Week honors… Also had sacks against Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee… First career fumble recovery came at Tennessee, resulting in Commodore field goal… Matched season high of six total tackles in Kentucky game… Had at least three tackles in final seven games.

2006
A foot injury prematurely ended Benoist[apos]s promising true freshman year… Played in first seven games of season before sustaining the foot injury while covering opening kickoff of South Carolina contest… Injury kept Benoist out of uniform for final four games… Contributed 14 total tackles as No. 2 linebacker… Best performance – six solo stops, eight total tackles – came in win over Temple.

High School:
Senior co-captain for USA Today[apos]s No. 1-ranked team in the nation… Two-year starter at linebacker, helping Dragons to 32-0 overall record and pair of Texas state titles… In three varsity season, Carroll went 47-1… As senior, contributed 172 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss and three sacks… Named First Team 5A All-State and All-Region, and finalist for Jack Pardee Award, given to Texas[apos] top prep linebacker… Invited to play in Texas-Oklahoma all-star game… National Honor Society member who earned school[apos]s Green Jacket Award for achievement in academics, leadership and citizenship.

Personal:
Ronald Patrick Benoist… Son of Glenn and Tanya Benoist… Benoist will complete his undergraduate work in May 2010, majoring in majoring in Economics from the College of Arts and Science… He is a three-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District IV Academic All-American (2007-09), and also a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient…Dad is in commercial real estate… Has an older brother, Jake, and younger sister, Caroline… Collects autographed NFL jerseys and enjoys hunting… Ten teammates are expected to sign I-A scholarships.

Southlake Carroll Coach Todd Dodge:
‘More than anything, Patrick is just a leader, one of the best our program has ever seen. He is a very, very intense competitor. He[apos]s a winner, knows how to win and what it takes to win.

‘Patrick is very versatile on the field, offering a great blend of run stopper and pass defender. He runs extremely well. I have no doubt that he can compete at the next level.’