Los Fresnos OL Benavides has pledged to Ole Miss.

By Jake Shaw/TexasFootball.com

An internet search for Mario Benavides brings up links for a famous football player.

Scratch that — make it a famous futbol player.

Little has been written about South Texas' Mario Benavides, a star in his own right at 5A Los Fresnos. The 6-4, 280-pound offensive lineman, whose video reveals he moves like a linebacker, suffers from the same lack of exposure as teammates from the 2006 team, twin brothers Justin and Jeremy Springer.

Neither Springer received much hype, but by Feb. 7th, both were signing national letters of intent (Jeremy to UTEP; Justin to Kansas).

"I just think it's tough being in the Rio Grande Valley, being on the border of Mexico," Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford said. "But I think (word on Benavides) will get out. (The Springers) ended up signing Division I scholarships and they weren't on any of the lists last year."

Playing in the far reaches of the state — and in the last district number-wise in the class (32-5A) — results in the mainstream audience missing out on guys like Benavides. However, Ford says while fans and recruiting sites are unaware, college coaches are clued in to this all-state performer.

The combination of his size and speed (he's consistently timed around a 4.9 in the 40) lends a quick explanation. Benavides is also very strong; he'll represent Los Fresnos as the Region IV champion at the upcoming state powerlifting meet.

In fact, Benavides' strength reminds Ford of a player he coached earlier this decade at Killeen Ellison.

"I think he's a Super Team-type player," Ford said. "I compare him to Tommy Harris who I coached in Killeen. He's the only kid who power cleaned more than Tommy. I think he's going to be special."

Like the former OU star and current Chicago Bear, who's been noted for having a softer side, Benavides can seemingly step into a phone booth as a quiet kid, and step out as a strongman ready to dominate.

"He's like jekyll and hyde," said Ford. "He's extremely nice off the field, a yes-sir, no-sir kid, but he's ultra-nasty on it. We've got to hold him off in practice. He's got the perfect football mentality. He definitely plays until the whistle blows."

That final whistle blare came late this past year. Los Fresnos went undefeated through the regular season, then went three rounds deep before bowing out to eventual state finalist Austin Westlake.

Though on the other side of a 45-19 defeat, Ford said Benavides "probably played his best game against Westlake."

Benavides is the type of recruit you see nearly every year at talent pools like Westlake, Dallas Carter and Lufkin. Ford knows and understands that. Perhaps that's why he's so grateful Benavides is a Valley product.

"I'm just glad he's going to Los Fresnos."

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