- April 18, 2024
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Matanzas High kicker Christian Benvenuto has been a key to the Pirates’ special teams success for four seasons.
Pirates’ kicker Christian Benvenuto is heading to Atlanta, where he will play for the Georgia State University Panthers football team. Benvenuto was scheduled to sign his letter of intent Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Benvenuto was a three-year starter on Matanzas’ varsity football team, and during his senior season, he owned the longest field goal (48 yards) in the Flagler/Volusia area.
Benvenuto visited GSU Dec. 3 through Dec. 5, and he said he was treated like “royalty.”
In an exit interview on the final day of the trip, coach Bill Curry offered Benvenuto a full scholarship.
Benvenuto went home and on Dec. 13, he committed to play for the Panthers, where he will primarily placekick and do kick-offs.
“I’m really excited,” Benvenuto said Monday. “Four years of working hard and preparation came down to this, and I’m glad I got it.”
Benvenuto said his goal is to make the freshmen All-Conference team and mature and then by the end of his college career, hopefully play in the NFL.
GSU began its football program last year. The Panthers compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is a part of Division 1-AA.
Coached by Bill Curry, a former NFL player and coach, the Panthers went 6-5 in their first season. Curry was a large reason why Benvenuto chose to play there.
“Coach Curry has so much wisdom and has so much to learn from,” he said.
Benvenuto plans to study communications and possibly minor in sports management. Though he’d love to work in the sports communications industry, his ultimate goal is to kick on Sundays, in the NFL.
