Former Red Bank High School standout Tim Benford, who just completed his Tennessee Tech football career with FCS All-America recognition, has committed to play Jan. 21 in the 87th East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga quarterback B.J. Coleman from McCallie already had been announced as a Shrine Game participant, and the game organizers announced Benford's participation Friday.
The two Chattanoogans will be a part of a tradition filled with college and NFL greats. The 2012 game will kick off at 4 p.m. that Saturday and be televised live on the NFL Network.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Benford led the Ohio Valley Conference in the 2011 season with 65 pass receptions and 923 receiving yards and scored five touchdowns. His career totals of 217 catches and 3,104 receiving yards are TTU records and second all-time in OVC history.