USF Athletics

SOUTH FLORIDA ?  2005: Opened his 2005 rookie season as the starting placekicker but early jitters combined with some errant snaps led to misses on all three of his field goal attempts...Made 2 of 3 PAT attempts...Re-gains starting nod with departure of Kyle Bronson, and coaches have full confidence.

LYMAN HIGH SHOOL - Class 5A second team all-state...First team all-conference and all-district...Made 11 of 15 field goals as a senior, including career-long from 55 (school record)...Had six field goals of 50 yards or longer...Had 42 touchbacks on kickoffs...Also made 26 PATs...Also worked as team punter with a 37.9 average on 20 punts...Lyman’s Outstanding Special Teams Player as a junior and senior...Rated number one kicker in Florida by OneonOneKicking.com...Listed among top kickers nationally by Street & Smith...Had nine field goals as a junior, along with 25 PATs and 26 touchbacks...Kicked winning field goal in three of the team’s five district wins, helping Lyman to its first district title in 20-plus years...Handled kickoff duties as a sophomore, although he had one field goal from 41 yards...Outstanding student with a 3.5 grade point average and a 1220 on his SAT...Named to Honor Society and Highest Honor Roll...Also played soccer, where he was a two-time team captain...Football coach was Bill Caughell.

PERSONAL ? Born December 30, 1986 in Orlando...Given name is Michael John Benzer...Son of Mike and Gay Benzer of Altamonte Springs....Listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students...Traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden as part of Premier Soccer Team (Central Florida United).