Brody Benke

Highlands High School

QB/Wr/TE/LS

2024

6'4 250

Middle Tennessee State University 

What will you miss the most about being a student-athlete at Highlands?

I will miss all my teammates and coaches who have really made me the person I am today. I've spent countless hours with everyone who is part of the program.

What mark do you believe your class left on the football program?

I feel like my class brought the winning tradition back to Highlands. We didn't make it where we wanted, but we were one game away, and that's the closest Highlands has been in years.

What was your biggest accomplishment as a high school football player?

My biggest accomplishment personally was being one of the players my team relied on to make a big play when we needed it. 

What was your biggest disappointment as a high school football player?

I did not win any of the 4 years I was at Highlands.

Highlands plays a tough schedule year in and year out. Who, if you can pick one, was the best team you guys ever faced during your career?

My sophomore year was Bowling Green, my junior year was South Warren, and my senior year was Cooper. The best team, in my opinion, was South Warren.

Who was the best player or defense that you faced in a game?

Austin Alexander's Coopers defense was really the only one that stopped us last season.

Of all of the road games you played in, which stadium had the best overall atmosphere, along with what made it so good? 

The Lex Cath game was my favorite road game; the energy was high since it was our first game, and we played one of the most complete games of the season that game.

What lesson have you learned from playing sports that you will be able to use later in life?

Sports has taught me to get my work done and be accountable, and it has given me experience working as a team and not as an individual.

What advice would you give to that young kid who wants to play football for the first time?

It's not easy; you will have rough days and days you want to quit. I didn't even like football until I was a freshman, and I fell in love with it. If you're a young kid that's not in high school and you want to quit, stick with it and at least try it in high school. I wasn't even planning on playing my freshman year, and playing was the best decision I've ever made.

All-star games used to be an honor for players to be invited to and play in. These days, players seem to turn their noses up at them. If you are invited to play in one, will you?

It is an honor to be recognized and play in an All-Star game. I was invited to play in one, but I will not play because it is right before I report for college, and how I look at it, it's not worth getting injured in an All-Star game and not being able to play in college because I got hurt. If I weren't playing in college, I would 100% be playing in the All-Star Game.

This is a new question I have been asking, and so far all of the players and coaches, with the exception of two, have answered. The two that did not just say no comment. Do you feel that private schools have an unfair advantage over public schools?

I would say private schools do have an advantage, but I wouldn't say it's an unfair advantage. High school football isn't really about the players they have; at the end of the day, it comes down to coaching and the work being done in the weight room.

Before you let everyone know where you have committed to play your college ball, would you share with us some of the schools that recruited you?

Toledo, UAB, EKU, Kentucky, West Virginia, Wofford, and Middle Tennessee

What was the best and worst part of the recruiting process?
 
The best part was going to all the schools and seeing what each school had to offer. The worst part was that you got a lot of leads and coaches would tell you one thing and it wouldn't happen. 

What made you choose Middle Tennessee?

It was the best opportunity for me to play my freshman year, and it's easily the best college I've visited. I really felt wanted and loved when I went on my visit. I was just at a spring practice, and the players made me feel welcomed, and every coach said something to me. It's really a family, and Coach Mason has one of the best staffs in the country around him. Right when I got on campus, I knew that if they offered me something, I was taking it. Middle Tennessee really just felt like home to me.

What is your favorite genre of music?

Country

Have you ever been to a Cincinnati Bengals game?

Yes, I love the Bengals. My parents have had season tickets for 20 years, so I go to a lot of the games!

Will you watch any of the new spring football leagues? (UFL)

Yes, I watched the Showboats vs. Brahmas game yesterday. Watching any type of football is enjoyable to me!

Link to pics that the player sent for the interview
https://hearltlandfan15.blogspot.com/2024/04/2024-interview-with-brody-benke-from.html

What a great young man. Not surprised though! He’s been such a role model for the next group of Birds ever since his Middle School/ Freshman days. 
 

Go get em Brody!

can't wait to see you excel in the Fall!