Mount St. Mary High School junior offensive tackle Marcus Benavides is easy to spot on Friday nights: a steady presence on the line, quietly doing the work that helps everything else fall into place. A varsity starter as an 11th grader, he already sees football as something much bigger than a game.
“Probably coach JD he is like family to me, and he keeps me on a straight path and makes sure I’m doing good in school,” Benavides said. His bond with his coach reflects how seriously he takes academics. His favorite subject is science, and he still remembers a standout math teacher. “My favorite subject is science, and my favorite teacher was Ms. Krug she was me 10th grade math teacher.”
On the field, Benavides has seen the intense side of the sport. “My teammates knee popping out of place,” he said, recalling the craziest thing he has witnessed during a game. Moments like that have reinforced the importance of focus and discipline. “Stay focused and stay discipline even when it gets hard,” he said of what athletics has taught him.
Playing offensive tackle can be a lonely job, but he embraces it. “I play offensive tackle and the hardest thing is being by myself all the time,” Benavides said. Still, he is quick to point out that the Rockets’ energy keeps him going. “Everyone has great energy and the push me to be the best I can be,” he said. “They push me the be the best version of myself.”
One of his favorite memories came when he was on the other side of the ball. “I was playing D-tackle and there was a fumble in the end zone and I got a touchdown,” he said.
Before games, his preparation is quiet and intentional. “Stretch and sit in silence listening to everything around me,” Benavides said.
He also looks up to his quarterback. “Probably Roman, he is my QB he is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet his leadership, and hard work is what leaves the biggest impression on me,” Benavides said.
Away from football, Benavides says his favorite thing to do is “Swimming/playing games.” He has also been involved on campus, previously serving as an ambassador. “I used to be an ambassador and all I did was show people around the school on a school day it was called ‘shadowing.’ They follow you too all of your classes and looks around the school,” he said.
