February 24, 2012

Busy Weekend: Tim Benford participating in NFL Combine

Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim Benford, the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, has a big weekend planned. The Chattanooga native is in Indianapolis participating in the annual NFL Combine.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- It's going to be a busy weekend for Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim Benford. The Chattanooga native, named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, is in Indianapolis this weekend to participate in the NFL Combine, a gathering of the best rising talent in the nation to show their skills.

"We're just excited for him," said Golden Eagle coach Watson Brown. "He deserves to be there. He's had a wonderful careeer for us, he's talented enough to be at the Combine this week, and we're hoping for good things for him."

Benford has spent the past couple months training at the Velocity Sports Performance Center in Naples, Fla. Under their guidance, he hopes to improve his speed and strength to better his stock in the 2012 NFL Draft in April.

Tim's schedule at the combine includes:

Thursday: Arrived in Indianapolis - Pre-Exam and X-rays - Orientation - Interviews.
Friday: Measurements - Medical Exams - Media - Psychological Testing - Interviews.
Saturday: NFLPA Meeting - Psychological Testing - PK/ST Workout - Interviews.
Sunday: Workout (40-yard Dash, Skill Drills, Vertical Leap & Broad Jump, Three-cone and Shuttle Drills).

Fans can watch the action Sunday online by visiting: http://www.nfl.com/combine/live.

Below is an excerpt from Benford's biography on the NFL Scounting Combine website:

Benford is a wide receiver out of Tennessee Tech, where in his senior year he was the OVC player of the year. He is a decent-sized receiver who understands how to run routes and get defensive backs on their heels. Benford has become a late rising prospect after an impressive showing at the East-West Shrine Game, where he displayed the ability to compete with the country's finest senior prospects.

Benford has some suddenness and explosion to him in and out of his breaks that allow him to separate from the defender. He is quick for a receiver of almost 200 pounds and has a good change of direction. He is smart to stem and sell his routes to keep corners off-balance and has the footwork to break off routes on a snap. He was a highly productive and consistent player throughout his career.

Fox Sports listed Tim as one of five "Small School Guys You'll Know by Next Week"

3. Tim Benford, WR, Tennessee Tech: Another small-school guy with big dreams, Benford stood out at East-West Shrine Game practices by showing surprising strength for his 200-pound frame. Tennessee Tech's Watson Brown coached Roddy White in college. Brown says Benford has all the goods to make it on the next level. "Tim's just got enough of the pieces," Brown told the Chattanooga Times Free Press last week. "He needed to have a good (senior) year, he needed to work harder and he did all of the things that I asked him to do." Not a huge speed burner and “under-sized” at 5-11, 200 pounds, Benford might not be a first- or second-day pick. With a great week of workouts, however, he can solidify his place in that Day 2 conversation.