Red Bank's Deres Benn Jr. has been nominated as one of the Times Free Press's Dynamite Dozen area football players for 2011.DERES BENN JR.No. 12School: Red BankHeight: 6-foot-1Weight: 190College interest: Middle Tennesseey, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee, UT-Chattanooga, Arkansas State
The potential was always there for Deres Benn, but that is a dangerous label to be given as a college football prospect.
At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds with 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Red Bank's senior defensive back possessed all the tools necessary to catch college scouts' eyes. But for all the potential, until late in his junior season, Benn seemed to lack some of the immeasurables that separate college prospects from merely good high school players.
The intangibles needed to realize his potential began after Lions coach Tim Daniels told Benn matter-of-factly that he had the ability to get a college scholarship if he would give more effort -- in the weight room, on the practice and game fields and in the classroom.
"He has always been a good kid and a contributor for us," Daniels said, "but he never seemed to put himself out front. We talked about his ability and what he could do, and I just told him that he could absolutely play at the next level, but he would have to do a lot more than he had to that point.
"I think something clicked because he has become a true leader for us, and I fully expect this will be a breakout year for him. I think a lot of folks will see just how good a player he can be."
Benn attended several college skills camps during the summer, and that, along with recommendations from Daniels, has helped bring in a wave of recruiting attention. He is rated the area's No. 12 college prospect in this year's Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen.
"There was something that always told me I could be a college football player, but when Coach Daniels sat me down and said it to me, it really started to sink in," Benn said. "I mean, he played in college and he's had guys here who went on to play, so he knows what it takes to get to that level.
"It meant a lot to me that he believes I have that kind of potential, and it really motivated me during the offseason."
Benn showed flashes of his ability last season, including an interception returned for a touchdown in a playoff win over Page.
The talk with Daniels motivated him to step into a leadership role, and he picked off seven passes in preseason passing-league games from his strong safety position. His size, strength (he squats 690 pounds) and playmaking abilities also make Benn one of the Lions' top receivers going into this season.
"On the defensive side he's so versatile and he has a frame to add another 20 pounds easily and even gain some speed to play either safety or linebacker," Daniels said. "He reads quarterbacks so well and breaks on the ball really well, plus he's got sweet hands and catches anything near him.
"There's no doubt he has the ability. A lot of kids don't realize what it takes to play at the next level because it's not just athletic ability. You have to be the total package. Deres has a lot of those attributes and now he's finally working like he should to take care of all those things."
