JUCO safety lands at Memphis
Ellisville (Miss.) Jones C.C. safety Jamie Bender has picked up three scholarship offers to date, Nichols State, UAB and Memphis. Though his recruitment was likely far from being over, on Monday, Bender decided that he didn't need anymore options and committed to Memphis.
"I'm committed to Memphis," Bender said on Monday night. "I'm going to sign my scholarship in December when everyone else signs. I made my decision tonight."
Advertisement
Bender has some familiarity with the program at Memphis but he was most drawn to Memphis' presence on the professional level.
"Basically I think it's a great school," he said. "They put people in the NFL and that's where I want to be at someday. Plus one of my teammates from last year is there so I want to reunite with him for another two years."
Though he has yet to visit the campus, Bender has an official visit scheduled on December 5. After that, he will enroll in the spring and he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Bender hopes to contribute early for the Tigers.
"I see the numbers over here where I'm at now so I looked at the roster and see the senior at the position where I'm at is leaving so I want to jump on it so that I have a chance to show what I've got on the depth chart right away."
This season, Bender has done his part to help his team to a successful season. He has been a key cog in one of the top defenses in Mississippi.
"I've been leading our defense and getting us set up on plays," he said. "I'm sort of the captain of the defense. I was here last year so I kind of learned a little bit more than everyone else as far as film study and preparing."