By By BRUCE HIXON Sports Editor
As a high school player, Nick Benjamin had to be versatile.
During his days with the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles, the 2003 graduate played quarterback and defensive back. He even did some kicking.
While players usually settle into the position they are signed for when they move on to the college level, it turns out Benjamin's versatility has been a plus at that level as well.
When Benjamin signed with NCAA Division I-AA member Southern University out of Baton Rouge (La.), he was recruited as a defensive back. Since then Benjamin has been moved to a position that was new to him, wide receiver.
Benjamin indicated having played defensive back before the switch was actually an advantage when he moved to wide receiver.
While Benjamin hopes for a much larger workload in the future, he did register his first reception this past season against Jackson State.
Benjamin has been a part of two highly successful teams so far in his stint at Southern. The Jaguars went 12-1 in his redshirt freshman season and 10-4 this past season.
The biggest highlight on the schedule for Benjamin has been getting to play in the annual Bayou Classic at the Super Dome in New Orleans against Grambling State.
Benjamin admitted it took a strange twist of fate for him to wind up at Southern.
Benjamin actually went to Southern on an academic scholarship. Since then the Jaguars program has rewarded him for his work on the gridiron with a partial athletic scholarship.
Benjamin, who resumed classes this week after the semester break, said the Southern players have a rigorous off-season conditioning program.
Benjamin is currently listed as second string on the Southern wide receiver depth chart.