PAHOKEE – Jashon Benjamin has been one of Pahokee’s most heralded players over the past few years.
The Early National Signing Day moment for our Co-Offensive Player of the Year was a true testament of his work ethic and determination to make it out.
On Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, Pahokee had three players sign, which included Benjamin (Rutgers), linebacker Jacorris Foreman (Tennessee State), and wide receiver/athlete Tony Martin (Western Michigan).
Benjamin was the only signee able to sign on campus, but the Blue Devil spirit was alive and well as teammates, administrators, family, and friends packed into Pahokee’s auditorium to watch the outgoing senior running back make history.
🎥PAHOKEE SIGNING DAY 📝: The moment Jashon Benjamin signed his NIL to Rutgers University to continue his athletic and academic career. @JashonB1 @Pahokee_MSHS pic.twitter.com/vII1GAtlE3
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 21, 2022
Benjamin has been playing football since little league and always had dreams as good as his grandfather. He jokingly admits that he’s not there yet, but he’s trying.
Although Benjamin may not be his grandfather, he has carved out a path for many Blue Devils to follow going forward.
The Pahokee administration announced that Benjamin is one of the first early signee they’ve went through the process with. They learned a lot from it, so much so that they’ll be looking to put a program in place to make sure all student-athletes are able to advantage of this great opportunity.
Benjamin (1,312 rushing yards, 688 receiving yards; 2,000 total yards, 18 total touchdowns in his senior year at Pahokee) expressed how he felt when he put the pen to paper.
“It feels great, man,” Benjamin said. “I got a new home. I can’t wait to get up there. I just can’t wait. When I saw the people, like, thank God, man. I finally got a new home. so I feel blessed right now.”
Benjamin had more to say about it.
“When I was younger, I was on the bench,” Benjamin said. “But I pushed myself every day, so that I can get to a D1 school. And now I’m here at Rutgers University.”
Benjamin spoke on what it meant for him to sign with his family in attendance.
“Man, it was the first time I saw my dad cry in a long time,” Benjamin said. “I was like, man, I done made so many people happy, man, like my grandparents, my mom, even my auntie, man. I made them proud, so I knew it felt like you did something, man. Your family believed in you, so I was proud of myself.”
📸: Jashon Benjamin, Family, friends, fellow student athletes, and Pahokee school staff celebrate early signing day with Benjamin that’s heading to Rutgers! 📝 @JashonB1 @Pahokee_MSHS @RFootball pic.twitter.com/s13KnpRoqB
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 21, 2022
Benjamin spoke on what ultimately made him choose Rutgers as his college destination.
“Rutgers, it’s different, man. I knew it was far from home, but the head coach, Shandles [Greg Schiano],” Benjamin said. “That man, he never lied to me. It felt like he was my own father, how he was talking to me. I felt like I could be one of his players, like one of his sons when he was talking to me. That made me feel like they were taking care of me like I was one of their own kids. So like, man, this is the place for me, man. Then the schemes and all that, like, yeah, I could fit here for this school.”
Benjamin early enrolled into Rutgers University and took off on Saturday, Jan. 14th to start his new academic and athletic career.
The Pahokee legend will joining a Rutgers squad that went 4-8 last year and will look to rebuild its football program. He looks to be a huge part of that rebuild and hopes to help the Scarlet Knights back to dominance in the FBS.
