Newberry OT Heath Benedict found dead

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Local football player found dead
Last Update: 9:43 pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police say 21-year-old Heath Benedict was found dead on his couch Wednesday evening in his Villages of San Jose home. They do not suspect that any drugs or alcohol were involved in his death, or that foul play is suspected.

Benedict, a 6'6, 333 pound football player, was an offensive lineman for Newberry College in South Carolina after he was red shirted at the University of Tennessee, according to the school's Web site.

The site also says that Benedict, originally from the Netherlands, played high school football in New Jersey.

According to NFL Draft Dog, Benedict also had an unofficial workout with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006.

Police have not released any further details about Benedict's death.

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Pretty stunning news. Benedict IMO was a solid 2nd-3rd round offensive tackle prospect this year. Really puts things in perspective when a guy you were just beginning to familiarize yourself with in terms of a possible player at the next level dies so suddenly.

Oh my God. Best wishes to his family. SAD!!!!!!!!!

Wow. That's just shocking. He had a very bright future as one of the top ten OT's in this draft. My first thought is the same as Chipper, how very sad for the family! The second thought is, well, crap! He was a very good possible pickup for us in the third round, and now, he's unavailable. So much for some of the depth at OT.

My thoughts and prayers will go out to them tonight.

this is awful news

Oh my goodness.

Condolances to Benedict's family. Knocks you off your backside when you spend so much time analysing a player's stengths and weaknesses, and then you realise, he was no mere draft prospect. He was a human being.

Is very sad!

his family must have been so proud of him being on the verge of becoming an NFL player and now they wont see him till they passover!:\

The shocking thing to me about this is that he would just up and die without any clear reason. Here you're talking about a guy just reaching his prime and presumably in better physical condition than your average Joe, and he probably just had a physical a few weeks ago at the Combine without any news of anything being wrong.

Dam man, that hella sucks.

There are no promises or guarantees in life. It is always surprising to see athletes die so young for no apparent reason. I am sure this most be tough and his family and friends.