Hall of Fame
Brett Benes, class of 2016, was a highly sought-after football recruit from Cardinal Newman High School located in West Palm Beach, Florida. When choosing colleges, Benes looked north and signed his letter of intent with the University of Charleston, where he went on to compete for his entire collegiate career as a punter and kicker. As a freshman with the Golden Eagles, Benes saw limited opportunities but broke onto the scene in his second season in 2014 with fifty-three punt attempts totaling 2065 yards for an average distance of 39.0, with three of those punts going for 50+ yards.
During his junior season, Benes stepped up even further as he began to gain national attention. His punts averaged 43.7 yards, with 13 going for 50+ yards, including a 71-yard punt that still stands as the longest punt in University of Charleston history. Benes also averaged 56.3 yards on his kickoffs and recorded 18 touchbacks. After his stellar performance, Benes earned First Team All-MEC honors as a punter and First Team All-American recognition.
Benes continued his success his senior year, earning once again First Team All-MEC as a punter, along with Second Team All-MEC recognition as a kicker. Benes also earned Second Team All-American honors and was named Hero Sports D2 National Special Teams Player of the Week during the 2016 season.
With multiple MEC Player of the Week recognitions and his numerous postseason accolades, Brett Benes has cemented his legacy for the University of Charleston football program.
