Seven Lakes HS grad Caleb Benenoch visits Texas A&M

Seven Lakes High School offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch was rated as one of the top offensive linemen in the state of Texas by AggieYell.com during their position breakdown a few weeks ago.

Aggieyell.com says, "Benenoch is a monster who moves well laterally for a 6-foot-6, 320-pound guy. He's at home in pass protection against outside rushers and he can reach ends on his outside shoulder in the running game. He keeps his feet moving and is capable of just mashing people if he stays with you long enough. He makes good use of his hands and gets them up quickly."

Benenoch was committed to Michigan State at the time and he currently has offers from Arizona State, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Mississippi, Tulane, West Virginia to go with the one from the Spartans. This morning, Benenoch drove up from Katy with his uncle to take in Texas A&M's first scrimmage under new head coach Kevin Sumlin and picked up another offer. Aggieyell.com talked to Benenoch about his trip to A&M and to see where he is in the recruiting process.

Q: How was everything?

A: It was amazing. I loved everything about it.

Q: What was the best part?

A: Talking with the players. I gelled with them really well. They treated me like I was already on the team. I talked to Matt Davis, all of the offensive linemen. It was real cool.

Q: Which coaches did you talk to?

A: Coach Polian, coach Sumlin, everyone really.

Q: What did you think of coach Anderson, the offensive line coach?

A: He's real cool. I remember him at the offensive line meetings cracking jokes. It's okay to be a hard ass every once but I like someone who you can talk to like that. He sat down and ate with us and he reminded me a lot of my offensive line coach in high school right now.

Q: What all did they tell you?

A: They were recruiting me to play and not stand on the sideline and that they wanted me there.

Q: They offered you today?

A: Today. They told me that they would before I got there but they wanted to meet me. It was when I talked to coach Sumlin.

Q: How long has A&M been recruiting you?

A: I got letters during last season but it really started about three weeks ago. Coach Wally (Wallerstedt) is recruiting me. He is a fiery guy.

Q: Have you visited anywhere else?

A: Houston.

Q: When are you going to see Michigan State?

A: When school is out and my dad gets back in the states.

Q: What are you going to do in the meantime?

A: Take as many local visits as I can and see everything. I want to see Arkansas, Ole Miss, Oklahoma…stuff within a reasonable driving distance. I spent 20 minutes with the offensive linemen in their meeting and got to see the coaches coach so that's the kind of thing that I want to see. If I say no to 15 or 16 colleges then I need to see everything that I can.

Q: Why did you commit to Michigan State originally?

A: The coaching staff knows how to win with the talent that they recruit every year.

Q: Since you are wanting to look around at local programs, do you want to stay closer to home?

A: At first, I wanted to get out of the community and get where it is cold. Then, I started thinking that I would be 1,500 miles from my friends and family. I can't see my parents on Thanksgiving Day. I can't do my old high school stuff. I can't see my sister play sports. That is something to think about. I could be playing in the best conference in the SEC, period, so that's something to think about.

In hindsight, I heard a lot of good things about the Michigan State coaches. I haven't heard anything about infractions. Coach D'antonio is a great coach. I hopped on board but now I think about being there four or five years when I sign. That's what I'm thinking.

Q: What are you looking for now?

A: What kind of system to play in. My freshmen year I played in a pro style offense and last year I was in the spread. This year went back to a pro style offense. Which one I want to do when I get to college? There's a lot of things to think about.

A&M was a good visit. I'm not jumping into anything. I want to take a look at Michigan State. On the outside looking in I love the school but I still have to see it.

Q: Are you still committed to Michigan State?

A: Yes sir.

Q: How would you handle it if you did?

A: If I decommit, it will be something that I talk to my family about. It will be when I visit there and talk to coaches and I see how it feels.

Q: When do you want to make a final decision by?

A: I don't know…the longer it takes the more educated my decision is.