2025 Interview with Griffin Benke Highlands High School (KY)

 

Griffin Benke

Highlands High School

EDGE,DE,OL,TE,LS

2027

6’5 220

Jersey Number 64

Awards won or earned:Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, JV Defensive Player of the Year

Post a small recap of last season with personal highlights and any other big moments you have and/or memories you have from last season, whether it be a game, the bus ride to or from the game, or any other thing that sticks out.

Last season for me was a huge season for growth as a football player mentally and physically. The thing that sticks out for me about last season is I got my first real varsity experience and was able to sit back and study my position. I also loved that we beat our rival, Cov Cath.

Playing as many positions (edge/DE, TE, OT, LS) as you do. How many reps are you getting in practice at each?

Obviously, most of my reps are at edge/DE, but I get a good amount of reps at LS and OL, and I hope to get a chance to prove myself as a TE in the near future.

How did you get into long snapping?

As a freshman, you needed any way possible to get onto the field, and LS just came naturally to me.

Where on the field do you feel you are best at?

edge/DE because that is where my skill sets are, and I feel that I and my twin coming off the edge can be scary for QBs across the state.

In your opinion, what will it take for the Highlands program to get back to where the nation knew them and the state of Kentucky feared them?

We need to approach every day with the intent of getting better as a team, not only as individuals. As my coach said today, “A bad team that gives great effort is a good team, but a great team that gives great effort is a state championship team.” We need to get back into the mindset that every day is an opportunity to get better.

What have you been able to learn at the camps you have been to?

I learned what it takes to be a D1 football player, and I also got the chance to work with the best of the best, making my fundamentals better as a team. I also can get taught things that I can take back to my team and make us better as a whole.

Which part of your game do you feel is the strongest?

I feel like my pass rush is the strongest part of my game because I have the speed to get off the ball and cause problems in the backfield. I am also working on getting my run game better.

Would you rather play your biggest rival in the opening week or the final week of the regular season?

Opening week because people will be more focused on the game if it was week one instead of having to focus on the playoffs instead. Also, I would love that it will be an early test for the team.

What was the highlight of the 2024 season?

Being able to get my first TFL on varsity.

What are your personal goals for the season?

To be able to win a state championship with my team would be amazing, and I want 10 sacks as an individual.

Who has been the best player that you have faced along with the team he was on?

I couldn’t tell you an individual player, but I think Cooper High School as a whole was the best team that I have faced because their offensive line may have been small, but they had so many other weapons.

If you could pick one opponent from across the river to play, who would you play?

Definitely Moller because they are regarded as a top team in the country, so I would love a chance to get to compete with that team to see who is better in the long run.

What makes you a good teammate?

I would say that I try and get everyone around me to strive to be the best version of themselves, not just as football players, but as people. I love being around the game of football. I love learning more about the game of football.

What is your favorite sports movie or show?

It has to be Friday Night Lights.

What song gets you fired up the most right before you take the field?

I honestly just go with whatever the team is playing that I’ll get hype to.

Who are your favorite and least favorite college teams?

I have always liked Louisville, but I like MTSU because my brother plays there, and I like a lot of the football programs now that I get a firsthand account of how they work on camps and visits, so I would say that I respect every college football team.

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