Kicking in the SEC

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

During Christian Benvenuto’s four years at Matanzas High School, he played in front of many large crowds.

Although the soccer games would draw an audience, most of the time the stadium was filled to capacity while he was kicking for the Pirates football team.

But as the current kicker for Georgia State University, Benvenuto is playing in front of a totally different beast.

He was at Neyland Stadium Saturday, Sept. 8, playing against the University of Tennessee, in front of 102,000-plus rowdy Volunteers fans, in college football’s toughest conference — the Southeastern Conference.

“It was awesome,” Benvenuto said in a phone interview Wednesday. “That’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of, so it was awesome to hear how loud an SEC stadium gets.”

Benvenuto also got to step onto the same field that Peyton Manning played on for four years.

“Even when I watched football (growing up), I always watched Tennessee, and it was cool to be in a place that has so much history,” he said.

After being suspended for the first game of the season, Benvenuto finished last Saturday’s game converting a 32-yard field goal and a 30-yard field goal, as well as one PAT.

“It’s cool to go from something little to something that big,” Benvenuto said of the change from Matanzas to college football. “It really shows how far I’ve come.”

But after dealing with some injuries toward the end of his freshman season, Benvenuto, now a true sophomore, hopes to continue to improve.

“I think every kicker wants to have at least 85% (efficiency),” he said. “But what’s been different from last year to this year is I’m not so much focused on what my stats are going to be ... but it’s more about just doing my job so I can put my team in a situation to win.

Mardy Gilyard re-signs with the Eagles
Mardy Gilyard is back with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eleven days after he was a victim of final roster cuts, Gilyard was re-signed by the Eagles on Tuesday.

Gilyard received a phone call Monday. The next day, he was in Philadelphia for a workout and a meeting. Not long after, the Eagles announced they re-signed him.

Because of injuries to current wide receivers, Gilyard could see ample playing time this weekend when the Eagles (1-0) host the Baltimore Ravens (1-0) 1 p.m. Sunday.

Gilyard, 25, had an impressive preseason with the Eagles, catching nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

This could be the break the third-year wide receiver needed.