Heath Benedict
Encyclopedia
Heath Benedict was a Dutch American football
player. An offensive tackle, Benedict was considered to be one of the top offensive linemen prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft
.
Benedict was born in Tilburg
, The Netherlands, to United States citizens: Ed Benedict, a former high school star athlete from Youngsville, Pennsylvania
, and Holly Devore. After his birth, the family moved to Greer, South Carolina
, where Benedict grew up playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. Benedict was originally a talented baseball prospect, with fastballs reaching the low 90's by the time he reached high school. Unfortunately, after his freshman year Benedict had surgery on his pitching elbow to have bone spurs removed. Instead of letting this setback deter him, Benedict began playing football, a sport he found he naturally excelled at.
After his sophomore year, Benedict transferred from Riverside High School in Greer to the Peddie School in New Jersey to focus on football. It was there that Benedict mastered his craft. Upon completion of his senior season in 2003, he was considered the top football prospect in the state of New Jersey. Benedict was the Number 7 Parade All-American in that year as well. He had scholarship offers from all major Division 1 programs. Benedict chose to visit Tennessee, South Carolina, Miami, Florida State, and Oklahoma (which was canceled after his decision to attend the University of Tennessee).
He originally signed to play for the University of Tennessee
but played right tackle at Newberry College
. Benedict left school with one semester of classes remaining to pursue an NFL career, and participated in the Senior Bowl
(being the only Division II player since 2004 to do so) as well as the NFL Scouting Combine.
Benedict died suddenly in his home in Jacksonville, Florida
on March 26, 2008. Authorities do not suspect foul play and the cause of his death was an enlarged heart
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. An offensive tackle, Benedict was considered to be one of the top offensive linemen prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
Benedict was born in Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
, The Netherlands, to United States citizens: Ed Benedict, a former high school star athlete from Youngsville, Pennsylvania
Youngsville, Pennsylvania
Youngsville is a borough in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,834 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Youngsville is located at ....
, and Holly Devore. After his birth, the family moved to Greer, South Carolina
Greer, South Carolina
Greer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 25,515 at the 2010 census. It is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass...
, where Benedict grew up playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. Benedict was originally a talented baseball prospect, with fastballs reaching the low 90's by the time he reached high school. Unfortunately, after his freshman year Benedict had surgery on his pitching elbow to have bone spurs removed. Instead of letting this setback deter him, Benedict began playing football, a sport he found he naturally excelled at.
After his sophomore year, Benedict transferred from Riverside High School in Greer to the Peddie School in New Jersey to focus on football. It was there that Benedict mastered his craft. Upon completion of his senior season in 2003, he was considered the top football prospect in the state of New Jersey. Benedict was the Number 7 Parade All-American in that year as well. He had scholarship offers from all major Division 1 programs. Benedict chose to visit Tennessee, South Carolina, Miami, Florida State, and Oklahoma (which was canceled after his decision to attend the University of Tennessee).
He originally signed to play for the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
but played right tackle at Newberry College
Newberry College
Newberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
. Benedict left school with one semester of classes remaining to pursue an NFL career, and participated in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
(being the only Division II player since 2004 to do so) as well as the NFL Scouting Combine.
Benedict died suddenly in his home in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
on March 26, 2008. Authorities do not suspect foul play and the cause of his death was an enlarged heart
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied without any obvious cause...
.