CFC100 taking path back to Manitoba, joins Bisons

Manitoba brings in an out-of-province commit to their Class of 2017.

It was a career that could have been over in the first minute of his very first practice. But, CFC100 Newton Benson, a defensive tackle from Kelowna Secondary School, stuck around and his determination was rewarded with a commitment to the University of Manitoba Bisons.

“At 13 years old, I picked up the sport and my first practice was the hardest time of my life. The first 40 seconds of practice started with a lap and I could not even get pasted the 20-yard line without falling to my knees,” Benson said.

After 11 years in Nigeria, he moved to Canada for what he said was a better education and lifestyle. He knew nothing about the sport until he was approached by one of his best friends at the time, Jake Richardson.

“I really didn’t want to (play football) after watching videos of the sport because where I’m from, football is soccer and I wasn’t used to all the contact and (neither) were my parents. But, I wanted to belong to something. I didn’t have many friends and wanted to make some,” Benson said.

There were many times in his first season where Benson thought about calling it a day and putting away the cleats for good. But, there was something that kept him going. He said, “I stuck around with it because of all the encouragement and love I got from my teammates and coaches. They really pushed me to get better.”

It was a decision he would not regret: “It really has opened up a lot of doors for me and I accepted the door that led me back to the place that made me fall in love with the sport in the first place.”

Why Manitoba more specifically? Well, the coaches of course. “I love the coaching here. I think Head Coach Dobie was one of my favourite coaches during the recruiting process,” Benson said. “Every step of the way, I really felt like I was his guy and once I went on my visit, I knew that this was where I wanted to be.”

He added that he believes the team is full of talent and that they will go as far as they are willing to take themselves. He also loved all that the school had to offer education wise.

Currently living in Kelowna, BC, the 6’4, 335lbs tackle’s latest team is the Kelowna Secondary School Owls (BC Secondary Schools Football Association). In his two years of BC-bound football, he has been a two-time conference all-star and was named a Top Grade 11 for his team. He was also named to Canadafootballchat’s All-Canadian First Team.

A key to his game may have been the players from which he has drawn inspiration. He said he looks up to such NFL defensive ends as the late Reggie White, Mike Daniels, a current player for the Green Bay Packers and the retired Israel Idonije.

“All these players play with the tenacity I like to play with and they also shown a lot of character with their off-field contributes. That’s why I want to wear a number in the 70s (because) I think lineman,” he said. “Numbers in the 90s are too overplayed even though the ‘Minister of Defense’ (Reggie White), wore a 90s number.”