USF seniors Bench, Byrd and Price to compete in games
TAMPA, JAN. 15, 2016 – After helping lead the Bulls to an 8-5 record and first bowl appearance in five years, several USF seniors will take part in college all-star games and events during the last half of January.
Senior quarterback Steven Bench (Cairo, Ga.) will get things started on Saturday, Jan. 16 when he takes part in the inaugural Tropic Bowl held in North Miami Stadium in North Miami Beach, Florida. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday with teams led by veteran NFL coaches Mike Stock (Green Bay) and Bill Khayat (Washington).
Bench played in 20 games and started three at USF, passing for 1,180 yards and seven touchdowns on his career while running for three touchdowns.
Senior safety Jamie Byrd (Dade City) and senior tight end Sean Price (Citra) will take part in different all-star games held on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Byrd will compete for the East Team and coach Charlie Weis in the 91st East-West Shrine Game held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The longest-running college football all-star game will kickoff at 4 p.m. and will be televised live on the NFL Network for the sixth-consecutive season.
Byrd made a huge impact in two seasons at USF leading the team with 95 tackles in 2014 and finishing second on the team with 88 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions in 2015. He started every game over the last two seasons, 25 in total, and finished his career with 183 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Price will compete in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl held in Carson, Calif. Coaches Mike Martz and Mike Holmgren will lead the teams in a 3 p.m. kickoff at the StubHub Center. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and team practices on Jan. 20 and 21 will be televised on ESPNU. Both broadcasts will be available on the WatchESPN app.
Price had a career year in 2015 logging 19 catches for 296 yards and five touchdowns while serving as a valuable blocker in a record-breaking USF run game that logged 246.5 yards per game on the ground and shattered the school rushing record with 3,205 yards. Price started 31 games on his career and leaves USF as the programs all-time career leader in receptions (75), yards (897) and touchdowns (6) by a tight end.
Bench and senior center Brynjar Gudmundsson (Wellington) both traveled to Bedford, Texas to take part in the College Gridiron Showcase that was held Jan. 10-13. The four-day event provided exposure and education to top seniors from around the country. The players were selected by a panel of football experts and received professional coaching, mentoring, life coaching and seminars to benefit them as they move forward in their professional lives in or out of football.
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