Does he have right stuff?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/04/2016 (3434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The eyeball tests have consistently revealed the same info about quarterback Bryan Bennett, dating back through his days in high school, then college and as an NFL prospect.

An example, courtesy his NFL.com draft profile from a year ago:

“Very good athlete… Posted impressive 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine… Has ability to hurt defences as a scrambler and on running plays… Looks the part… Smooth, effortless release. Arm strength is no issue. Can put pepper on seam throws… Shows hints of being able to make anticipatory throws into tight windows. When able, will shuffle from pocket, keeping his eyes downfield and scanning for an open target.”

All of this and his back story makes Bennett one of the more-intriguing prospects at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers mini-camp. But what the eyeball tests and scouting reports don’t reveal is the man’s resiliency, an ability to roll with the punches, and get up off the mat when he takes one on the chin.

It’s what brought him to Winnipeg after starting his college career at Oregon, losing the starting QB gig to some guy named Marcus Mariota, who just happened to win the 2014 Heisman Trophy before being selected second overall by the Tennessee Titans.

It’s what sent him to Southeastern Louisiana State from Oregon, what brought him to Winnipeg after a tryout with the Indianapolis Colts.

And it’s what has him still chasing his dream after selling cars at Bill Hood’s auto emporium in Hammond, La., when the Bombers first called.

“I’ve always been a guy that just wants to play,” said Bennett after Day 2 of mini-camp. “I waited about three months (after his tryout with Indy), was working out and selling cars. That, honestly, makes you lose your mind a bit… being away from football was a hint at the reality of having to go get a job.

“For us it’s not something you’re used to. It’s always been, play ball, go to school or play ball and study the game. Working 9-to-5 was an eye opener.”

Maybe that’s why Bennett has been so eager to learn from the moment he first joined the Bombers late last season. He had something he loves taken away from him, even momentarily, and it’s reinvigorated his desire to chase the dream again.

It takes a special talent to get recruited to play at Oregon under then-head coach Chip Kelly. And Bennett was a gifted-enough athlete that after Mariota secured the top spot on the QB depth chart, they asked him to consider switching to safety or receiver, just to get him on the field somehow. He was willing to accept that role, but opted to transfer to Southeastern Louisiana when Kelly bolted for the NFL.

“I loved everything about Oregon,” said Bennett. “I was just out there competing with a guy who ended up being the Heisman winner.

‘It’s fun to be able to learn something new and do some things we haven’t done before. Big field. Wide field. You’ve got to be on time and know which throws you can take and which throws you can’t. It’s been a fun experience getting to learn as much as I have. And getting to learn from coach Buck (Pierce) now, he’s a guy that played in this league for nine years and had a lot of success’– QB Bryan Bennett

“It was a tough decision for me, but really it came down to whether I was going to switch positions and stay there until I could graduate or keep playing quarterback and go get two years experience under my belt. Then when Chip left, I decided to check out Southeastern. I decided to play quarterback and keep working on my craft.”

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Good call. At Southeastern Louisiana, Bennett helped lead the Lions to two Southland Conference championships, while earning First Team All-Southland Conference honours in 2014 and being named 2013 Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2013. That, and his solid showing at the combine, got him a look-see from the Colts before landing here in Winnipeg.

The next chapter, he hopes, includes a long stretch in the wide-open three-down game.

“It’s fun to be able to learn something new and do some things we haven’t done before,” said Bennett. “Big field. Wide field. You’ve got to be on time and know which throws you can take and which throws you can’t. It’s been a fun experience getting to learn as much as I have. And getting to learn from (quarterbacks) coach Buck (Pierce) now, he’s a guy that played in this league for nine years and had a lot of success.

“I just love playing football. I’ve got another opportunity to do that and I’m blessed to have that opportunity and now I want to take advantage of it. You can work the rest of your life, but you can only play football for so long. This is something I’m going to chase for as long as I can.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.caTwitter: WFPEdTait