No. 62 – Chicago Bears | |
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Position: | Offensive tackle |
Personal information | |
Born: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | October 12, 2001
Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Handsworth Secondary School |
University: | UBC (2019–2023) |
CFL Draft: | 2024 / Round: 2 / Pick: 15 |
Undrafted: | 2024 |
Career history | |
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Roster status: | Active |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Theo Benedet (born October 12, 2001) is a Canadian gridiron football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played U Sports football for the UBC Thunderbirds.
Benedet was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended Handsworth Secondary School.[1][2] He grew up a fan of the BC Lions but did not compete at football seriously until he was in 10th grade at Handsworth.[3] He committed to play U Sports football for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds.[3]
Benedet immediately became a starter on the offensive line for UBC as a first year in 2019.[4] The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] He appeared in seven games during the 2021 season.[6] In 2022, he was named first-team All-Canadian and was the winner of the J. P. Metras Trophy for best lineman nationally, helping the team have one of the best U Sports rushing offences along with reaching their first Hardy Cup in four years.[7] He was the only U Sports player selected to the 2023 East–West Shrine Bowl.[8] Although projected to be a top pick in the 2023 CFL draft along with fellow UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, they both opted to return for a final season.[9] In 2023, Benedet repeated as a first-team All-Canadian selection and as the winner of the J. P. Metras Trophy, becoming the first offensive lineman to win the trophy twice in a row; he also helped the Thunderbirds reach the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2015.[10]
Benedet was invited to the College Gridiron Showcase.[10] In addition to being projected as a top pick for the 2024 CFL draft, he also received attention as a potential selection in the 2024 NFL draft.[11] He was not selected in the NFL draft, but later signed with the Chicago Bears as a undrafted free agent.[12][13] Benedet was later drafted in the second round (15th overall) by the BC Lions in the 2024 CFL draft.[14]