The surprise freshman this season is Ty Benefield, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound safety from Irvine, California. Against North Dakota, the first-year man recorded three tackles and a sack after carrying out The Hammer for Boise State.
Benefield saw increased action after starting safety Alexander Teubner left the game just before halftime with an apparent injury. With Teubner’s status still unknown heading into Friday’s game at San Diego State, there’s a chance the freshman makes his first start.
“He’s a very talented individual — long, can run, super athletic, nose for the football,” said Boise State defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson. “His study habits and how he prepares to play, it’s not like he’s a freshman.”
“Former CFL and NFL player Daved Benefield joins Prater and Mallory for a conversation about his son, Ty Benefield, pictured, who has become a fan favorite through the first three games of the Boise State season.”
The Broncos wore black jerseys, blue pants and blue helmets. … Team captains DJ Schramm and Riley Smith were joined by right tackle Cade Beresford and edge Demitri Washington as game captains. … San Jose State won the coin toss and elected to defer. … Boise State was led onto the field by safety Ty Benefield, carrying the Dan Paul Hammer.
Boise State’s Seyi Oladipo (23) and Ty Benefield (20) celebrate after a defensive play against Utah State on Saturday in Logan, Utah. – Boise State University Athletics
“Boise State’s defense had nine sacks, with two each from Ty Benefield and Hassanein.”
Benefield had a career day against Utah State. Benefield was all over the field finishing with seven tackles and two sacks. The true freshman safety was a big part of the blitz package that led to nine sacks for the Broncos.
IDAHO PRESS SUMMER STORYLINE NO. 8: Can the safeties be a strength of the Boise State defense? June 25, 2024
Junior Zion Washington became a part of the regular rotation last season for the Broncos recording 30 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack, while Ty Benefield had a breakout freshman season last year, with 46 tackles, and three sacks, including a pair of sacks against Utah State.
OUR SPORT CENTRAL.com Boise Hawks Homestand #5 and #6 Preview
Saturday, July 6 vs. Missoula PaddleHeads Boise State Football Safety, Ty Benefield Appearance; The Boise Hawks welcome Boise State Football Safety, Ty Benefield, to Memorial Stadium as part of the Boise Hawks’ Boise State Student Athlete Series. Ty will throw out a first pitch and then join fans in The Garden for a meet and greet with photos and autographs.
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The youngest member of the Broncos’ likely starters at safety may have the highest ceiling. Ty Benefield played in 13 games and started five last season as a true freshman.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Irvine, California, notched the first sack of his career against North Dakota and added two more against Utah State. He snagged the first interception of his career against Wyoming, posted a career-high eight tackles in the LA Bowl against UCLA and finished the season with 46 tackles and five pass breakups. Benefield is sure to see plenty of snaps again this year because Stockton said he can play both safety positions and nickel if needed. “He can be as good as he wants, and it’s my job as the coach to get him there,” Stockton said. “He has such a high ceiling, and I need to make sure he reaches all of his potential while he’s here.”
KVTB Scott Slant: The keys to the car in Mad Dog’s hands Aug 21, 2024
And at safety alongside Alexander Teubner, it sure looks like Ty Benefield gives the Broncos the best chance to win.
BENEFIELD’S ROLE Amidst all the talk of who gives Boise State the best chance to win, well, that applies to every position on the team. And at safety alongside Alexander Teubner, it sure looks like Ty Benefield gives the Broncos the best chance to win. Coach Spencer Danielson doesn’t drop that many names after scrimmages, but he dropped Benefield’s Saturday after the sophomore made six tackles. Make no mistake, Benefield has formidable competition back there in guys like Rodney Robinson, Seyi Oladipo, Kaonohi Kaniho and Zion Washington. But Benefield has the size at 6-2, 204 pounds, and most importantly the playmaking ability. He saved his best for last in 2023, making eight stops in the LA Bowl against UCLA. And Benefield is now sporting No. 0, the former jersey of one JL Skinner.
KVTB Boise State, Jacksons unveil new football trading cards featuring 2024 roster Aug 24, 2024
Signature Cards – Defense/Special Teams: Ty Benefield (S), Jonah Dalmas (K), Ahmed Hassanein (DE), Marco Notarainni (LB), Seyi Oladipo (S), Andrew Simpson (LB)
“I’ve always wanted to have my own trading card,” Benefield said. “When I was a kid, my dad, who played in the Canadian Football League, had his own cards, I thought it was just the coolest thing, and for it to happen now for me, it’s just an amazing feeling. I’m so thankful for God watching over me and blessing me with great health and a great year last year, but this year I’m coming for it all. Thank you Bronco Nation. My love for you is strong. Let’s keep this thing rolling!”
First Kick Was Good August, 31, 2024 Boise State Roster Countdown – Day 0 – Ty Benefield
Career Highlights Played in 13 games as a true freshman, starting five. In those games, he racked up 46 tackles, three sacks, and an INT. He flashed a natural talent in coverage and splash plays. He had a field day against Utah State, in particular, with 2 of his sacks, 2.5 TFLs, and a PBU coming against the Aggies.
DUCKS WIRE – USA TODAY Previewing the Boise State Broncos defense ahead of Week 2 game vs. Oregon Ducks Sept 5, 2024
Giving up 45 points and 461 yards to Georgia Southern in the season opener wasn’t what Boise State had in mind.
Fortunately for the Broncos, they were still able to come out with a 56-45 victory. But one would think things aren’t going to get any easier when Boise State comes to Autzen Stadium Saturday night against an Oregon offense looking to prove something.
Benefield, who plays mostly the safety position, led the Broncos with nine tackles last week and was voted to the preseason All-Mountain West Second Team as a sophomore. As a freshman, Benefield had 46 tackles, 4.5 for loss and three sacks.
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The Broncos forced another fumble on the very next possession, as Andrew Simpson knocked the ball out and Ty Benefield jumped on it. The turnover set up a four-play, 22-yard drive that ended in Jeanty’s third touchdown of the night as Boise State led 34-27.
IDAHO PRESS Special teams breakdowns do in Boise State in loss to Oregon Sept 8, 2024
On the next drive, Oregon tried to catch the Broncos off guard on a quick snap on second-and-1, but Ducks quarterback Dillon Grabriel fumbled on a hit by Andrew Simpson and Ty Benefield recovered it at the Ducks’ 22, setting up an 8-yard go-ahead score by Jeanty.
KIVITV.com Ashton Jeanty leads #25 Broncos past Cougs in 45-24 victory Sept 29, 2024
But you can’t beat a team by three touchdowns without a little help from the defense. Ty Benefield snagged the Bronco’s first interception of the season to shut down the Cougs momentum heading into halftime.
SI.com RECAP: Washington State Falls To Ashton Jeanty and #25 Boise State, 45-24 Sept 30, 2024
The Cougars mounted a drive into Bronco territory on the next possession, but Mateer threw an interception into the hands of Ty Benefield. The first half ended with Boise State up 17-10.
SI.com TAKEAWAYS: Ashton Jeanty and Boise State D-Line Power Victory Over Washington State Sept 30, 2024
Nowhere To Go For Mateer
The Boise State defense were a constant presence in Washington State’s backfield on Saturday. The Broncos sacked Washington State star quarterback John Mateer eight times and totaled 11 tackles for loss. The Cougars netted just 89 yards in the run game, after netting at-least 200 in three of their four previous games. Ty Benefield also picked off Mateer to end the first half, Boise State’s only takeaway.
KVTB.com Game Day Guide: No. 21 Boise State hosts Utah State in conference opener Oct 2, 2024
Safety Ty Benefield looks to continue his tear after recording Boise State’s first interception, stopping a Washington State drive in the end zone at the end of the first half. Benefield has a team-high 29 total tackles this fall and ranks second with 3.5 tackles for loss, behind Ahmed Hassanein (4.5).
Bronco Nation News Prater: Boise State CBs are the weak link on a defense that needs to get better Oct 10, 2024
Boise State is 123rd in the nation (of 133 teams) in pass defense – allowing 278.8 yards a game. Boise State is dead last in the nation in interceptions – with one (safety Ty Benefield).
The Idaho Statesman Boise State faces ‘relentless’ turnover machine in huge Mountain West game at UNLV Oct 21, 2024
The Broncos have managed just one interception through six games and recovered four fumbles — that one interception came from sophomore safety Ty Benefield in the final seconds of the first half against Washington State.
Read more at: https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article294319034.html#storylink=cpy
UniSwag TY (Buck Jr.) Benefield | Boise State Broncos – 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙩 ☁️ October 23, 2024
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Ty Benefield is one of the mainstays of Boise State’s secondary. He’s only a sophomore and has already established himself as one of the best defensive backs in the Mountain West. Benefield is already on track to eclipse last season’s total of 46 stops. He can get into the backfield from time to time and come up with TFLs. He has an interception and two forced fumbles. You’ll see the California product all over the field.
247 Sports November 8, 2024 Boise State vs Nevada: What to know and where to watch
Ty Benefield had a shaky start to the season in coverage and as a tackler, but is looking more comfortable in his new position. Outside of one bad rep against UNLV that let up a touchdown, Benefield has been excellent in coverage and been a more consistent tackler.
Prediction: Notarainni forces a fumble and Ty Benefield nabs his second interception of the year.
Bluefield Daily Nevada Boise St Football November 15, 2024
Instagram – Jay Tust #BoiseState sophomore safety Ty Benefield is playing some really good football right now, but we haven’t even seen his best, according to defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. November 16, 2024
HJ News Boise St San Jose St Football November 16, 2024
Boise State safety Ty Benefield, right, forces San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget (5) to fumble during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in San Jose, Calif.
KVTB – YouTube Ty Benefield to lead Boise State into battle with Dan Paul Hammer November 17, 2024
Idaho Statesman Facing ‘very difficult’ task, Boise State defense forces 4 turnovers to fuel latest win November 17, 2024
San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget doesn’t want to see Boise State sophomore cornerback Ty Benefield again anytime soon. Benefield was instrumental in helping No. 13 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West) turn a 14-0 road deficit into a 42-21 victory over San Jose State (6-4, 3-3) on Saturday night in California. Benefield led Boise State on the field at CEFCU Stadium carrying the Dan Paul Hammer, which has become a symbol of grit and determination for the program. But upon arriving at the end zone and slamming the hammer down, it fell apart in his hands.
Read more at: https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article295687674.html#storylink=cpy
SI .com Ashton Jeanty’s three touchdowns lift Boise State over San Jose State: 3 takeaways from Broncos’ comeback victory November 17, 2024
Midway through the third quarter, Benefield delivered a huge hit on Eget that jarred the ball free. Jayden Virgin-Morgan fell on it at the Broncos 34 to end another promising drive. . . . San Jose State’s next drive ended on a Ty Benefield interception just outside the red zone. The Broncos cashed that turnover into points for a 14-14 halftime tie.
East Idaho News Facing ‘very difficult’ task, Boise State defense forces 4 turnovers to fuel latest win November 17, 2024
San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget doesn’t want to see Boise State sophomore cornerback Ty Benefield again anytime soon.
Benefield was instrumental in helping No. 13 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West) turn a 14-0 road deficit into a 42-21 victory over San Jose State (6-4, 3-3) on Saturday night in California.
Benefield led Boise State on the field at CEFCU Stadium carrying the Dan Paul Hammer, which has become a symbol of grit and determination for the program. But upon arriving at the end zone and slamming the hammer down, it fell apart in his hands.
Was that a bad omen for Boise State?
Well, the Broncos arguably played their worst 15 minutes of football to start the game, falling behind 14-0. But Benefield helped get things turned around, playing the key role in two big turnovers that helped swing momentum in a game that was full of swing.
The 6-foot-2 cornerback had an interception in Bronco territory in the first half, with the ensuing drive resulting in a touchdown to even the score at 14-14 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Benefield rocked Eget on a fourth-down run, sending the ball flying into the air and then into the arms of redshirt sophomore edge Jayden Virgin-Morgan.
Boise State scored on the ensuing drive again, this time taking a 28-21 lead — its first of the game, and the only lead it would need.
“He played an awesome game, and I know those guys were working all week,” Boise State redshirt sophomore quarterback Maddux Madsen said of Benefield. “They had a task at hand that was very difficult.”
KMVT Boise State football wraps up conference season with Wyoming on Saturday November 19, 2024
What impressed head coach Spencer Danielson the most was the multiple turnovers his Broncos created.
Sophomore safety Ty Benefield became the first Bronco with an interception and a forced fumble in the same game since linebacker Zeke Noa on Oct. 8, 2022, per KTVB’s Jay Tust.
He knows his defense will be the key to a Mountain West Championship.
Ty Benefield is having a great season by any objective measure. The sophomore safety from Irvine, Calif. is the team’s leading tackler with 55 on the season, and his four takeaways (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) are the most on the team.
His dominance was potentially never more evident than this past weekend against San Jose State, where Benefield picked off a pass and later in the game forced a fumble on a critical fourth down. Both turnovers were instrumental to the Broncos’ come-from-behind victory on Saturday.
The scary part, for opposing offenses that is, is that all this success is happening in Benefield’s third season – ever – on the defensive side of the ball.
“Being a defensive back was not part of the plan at all,” Benefield said. “I did not ever think I was going to want to play DB but it happened.”
PART OF HIS BLOOD
Benefield’s versatility can be traced back to his father, Daved, a decorated Canadian Football League star who played for 13 seasons for five different teams. Daved also played multiple positions on the field, growing up as a safety, but transitioning into a linebacker and defensive lineman throughout his career.
Ty, who was born on the tail end of his father’s CFL career, grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially a basketball player, Ty didn’t begin playing football until he was 10 years old, two years later than most of his peers. However, his natural athleticism was apparent early on, and he was soon playing quarterback for his local Pee Wee team.
“I could throw better than those guys who had been playing as 8-year-olds,” Ty said. “Those guys couldn’t even throw a real football. They had to throw those nerf ones. I was actually throwing a real football and I was doing it pretty good. I could definitely tweak some stuff and work it but it felt natural. I was also the best athlete.”
Benefield only began playing defensive back as a senior in high school.
Strangely, Ty didn’t watch much football as a kid, as his dad didn’t want to overdo it. As he got older however, he began to watch some of his dad’s old tapes, and was blown away with the intensity with which his dad played.
“I really liked watching his film,” Ty said. “It’s cool watching that old style of football, being able to light up the quarterback. There was no strike zone – you just ran through a quarterback’s face if you wanted to. That’s the football that I love watching.”
As he morphed into a teenager, Benefield became entranced by the allure of the game. He started incorporating football games into his viewing habits, and found himself enjoying college football, CFL and NFL games.
Periodically, he would accompany his father to CFL games, where Ty witnessed how popular his dad was.
“Everybody knew who he was,” Ty said. “Random dudes would come up to him and say hi. That’s when it started clicking for me how cool it all was. I realized that my dad knew what he was talking about. He knew his stuff for sure. I started trusting him and kind of falling in love with it.”
THE MOVE
Knowing there would be more athletic opportunities, Benefield moved to Irvine when he was 15. It was huge transition – and sacrifice from his family – to head to California and Benefield was determined to make the most of it.
Moving as a teenager is naturally an awkward transition, but the competition Benefield faced on the football field was jarring. In Canada, his natural athleticism had made him a successful quarterback. In America, he was competing for spots with players who had been living and breathing football their entire lives.
However, his father had prepared him for the shift, and Ty was prepared to put in maximum effort.
“I became obsessed with how tough guys would look coming out of the tunnels,” Benefield. “It’s what I fell in love with as a little kid. As I got a bit older, I realized I had to grind to get there. Moving to California wasn’t an easy sacrifice for my family at all. They were sacrificing all this financial stuff. I told myself I’m going to do this and I have to do this. It pushes me to this day. I have to get up and go.”
He transitioned to wide receiver, a position where he thought his athletic prowess would be realized. However, the gains from his hard work weren’t immediately realized. As a junior at Santa Margarita High School, Benefield played a majority of the season on the junior varsity squad.
“If you’re playing junior varsity as a junior you’re probably not going to go play college football.”
Ty Benefield
Benefield recorded his first career interception against Wyoming on Oct. 28, 2023.
The sophomore leads the team in takeaways on the season (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries)
As spring practice rolled around ahead of his senior season, Benefield hit a timely growth spurt. His head coach, Anthony Rouzier, had him partake in defensive drills as a potential way to get him on the field.
“I played 7-on-7 and realized it was kind of fun,” Benefield said. “I enjoyed tagging dudes off, sometimes deflecting a pass, making a big hit. I was also getting picks while covering guys and I started falling in love with that. When they asked me to go with the receivers at one of our summer practices, I realized I didn’t want to. I was just starting to click with our coverages. It made more sense to me than route trees. It seems backwards, but I’m telling you, it clicked way faster.”
Fueled by a newfound love on the defensive side of the ball, the transition wasn’t as difficult as many anticipated.
“People thought the hardest thing for me was going to be the tackling aspect. Growing up, I did not want to hit and I did not want to get hit. When I got hit as a receiver, I hated it. That aspect sure changed though. I started hitting people pretty hard. Obviously, I worked to get to that part but I enjoyed lighting people up. It was awesome.”
Benefield recorded a career-high nine tackles in the season opener against Georgia Southern.
Benefield transferred to Crean Lutheran prior to his senior year, where he played in all three phases. He was a return man on special teams, returning 12 punts and nine kickoffs for the Saints. On offense, he averaged 117 yards per game, hauling in 90 receptions for 1,404 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also got some time in the backfield, registering 136 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
And in his first full season on the defensive side of the ball, Benefield recorded 91 tackles (52 solo), seven pass breakups and four interceptions.
His dominance on full display, his phone started blowing up with college coaches. Benefield was admittedly overwhelmed with the amount of coaches calling and texting him, but felt a genuine connection with Boise State throughout the process.
“I was just looking for a place that would love me for what I’ve been through and then love me for the type of player and person I am,” Benefield said. “Boise State was literally the first place to ask me what I’ve been through. They wanted me to tell them my story. That’s what stuck out with me.”
Inspired by the genuine connection between the team and the coaching staff, Benefield selected Boise State over the likes of BYU, Colorado State, Oregon State, Stetson, Washington and Washington State.
SEEING BLUE
When Benefield arrived a few weeks ahead of fall camp in the fall of 2023, he was instantly blown away by the competitiveness in the locker room.
“My first thought when I got here was that it was the real deal,” Benefield said. “Everything my dad told me when I was younger literally happened. I remember thinking that I should have listened better. He was trying to tell me like all this stuff so I’d be better prepared. And I was better prepared. Some things squeaked through and got me. But after that first fall camp, I realized that I thought I had time. But no, this thing goes by so fast.”
Benefield became a sponge, doing his best to learn from the leaders of the defense. Guys like Demetri Washington, Michael Callahan and Alexander Teubner were instrumental in his development his freshman year.
“All these dudes were telling me about the grind of fall camp,” Benefield said. “I listened to them, thank God. I listened and I took every bit of advice from the older dudes. As soon as I got the playbook I studied that thing. I studied the crap out of it. I wanted to know everything so every time I went out to practice, I wasn’t acting like that freshman running around. I stole as many reps as I could. My dad told me that and I listened, sure enough it helped me get to where I am right now.”
“I’m so glad that I have these brothers, helping me study the playbook together. There were times in Sawtooth when we’re just on the whiteboard drawing stuff up. That stuff is so much fun.”
Ty Benefield
The hardest part for Benefield was learning the intricacies of a position he had just begun playing a year prior. In high school, his raw athleticism covered a lot of the learning curve he had on the X’s and O’s. But the jump to college was at a whole other level.
“I had only played DB for one year when I got here,” Benefield said. “There were things that I just wasn’t used to, like intermediate run fits and intermediate coverages. I was still trying to understand my body and learn how to backpedal and break in a more advanced way. Doing it against high school kids is way different than doing it against college kids. When you get to college, you realize that you really need to work on a lot of stuff.”
Benefield recorded an interception and forced a fumble against San Jose State last weekend.
You wouldn’t know it if you were a Bronco fan. Benefield saw the field in 13 games as a true freshman, resulting in 46 total tackles. He finished the year with three sacks (including two against Utah State) and recorded his first career interception against Wyoming. He ended the season in his hometown with perhaps his best performance, registering eight tackles, including one for a loss, against UCLA in the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk
“My freshman season was an absolute blessing,” Benefield said. “I just gave it all to the amount of work that I put in. I was focused on what I’m going to bring to the table. It helped me. I’m so glad that I had people to help me out, like the older guys and my dad pushing me every day. That freshman year was just so much fun. But I left a lot on the table for sure. I knew I had to keep going.”
“I’ve always wanted to outwork everybody. That’s the type of guy I am.”
Ty Benefield
Benefield was hungry to improve. He decided to prioritize improving physically. He met with Director of Sports Performance Benjamin Hilgart, who came up with a summer plan to help him improve.
“If you look on film, I look little when I’m out there when I first came in,” Benefield said. “I took Coach Hilgart’s plan and ran with it. We had a break for a couple of weeks and I told my dad, ‘When I get there we need to start eating and working.’ He fed me so much and we worked out so much to the point where I was lifting extra and running a lot. I gained a lot of weight. Sure enough, my numbers [in the weight room] were going up.
“I give it all to Coach Hilgart because he let me know exactly what I needed to work on. I feel a lot faster and my body control is just way better. Coach Hilgart and the strength staff have done an unbelievable job of transforming me and just keeping me healthy too.”
Benefield has two fumble recoveries and forced fumble on the year.
Benefield leads the team with two interceptions on the season.
Entering his sophomore season, the Boise-media contingent took notice. Several local reporters were impressed at Benefield’s physical transformation, and his play on the field certainly rectified the hype.
In his first game of the season against Georgia Southern, Benefield recorded a career-high nine tackles. He recovered a fumble against Oregon, and added tackles for loss in back-to-back games. Through 10 games, the former quarterback-turned-wide-receiver-turned-defensive-back leads the team with 55 tackles and his four takeaways are the most on the team.
The sophomore arguably had his best game last weekend against San Jose State, picking off quarterback Walker Eget in the first half before forcing Eget to commit a critical fumble on fourth down. Both plays led to touchdowns on the offensive end.
Throughout the season, Ty will get texts from his father on little tidbits that could help.
“I ask him about technique and stuff all the time,” Ty said. “He loves it because he’s definitely able to coach me up still. I got a text from him the other day telling me I was too high on my tackles. He loves it for sure, and I love it too, because I need all that. I’ll take all the coaching I can get.”
Most importantly, Benefield is helping his team win. The Broncos are currently 9-1 on the season, and are projected to receive a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff if the current projections show.
To get there, though, the team has to take one game at a time. Which means taking care of business against Wyoming on Saturday.
“I’ve followed all these great teams when I was younger, and we’re really living that,” Benefield said. “It’s so great to have a team where all of our mentalities are really very similar. We want to get to this place so bad and we’re willing to put in all that work. I love them so much. I love this team so much. We’ve been through the tough stuff together, so it makes us that much more dangerous.”
SI.com Boise State defense creates big plays, takeaways November 20, 2024
Ty Benefield intercepted a second-quarter pass and later forced a fumble that was recovered by Jayden Virgin-Morgan. Ahmed Hassanein had a fumble recovery and Davon Banks sealed the win with a 70-yard pick-six.
Instagram – JayTust Nov 24, 2024
Last weekend #BoiseState sophomore S Ty Benefield became the first Bronco with an interception and a forced fumble in the same game since LB Zeke Noa on Oct. 8, 2022.
He’s also the first Bronco to do it in a road game since FS Darian Thompson on Oct. 10, 2015.
Saturday Blitz.com Canuck U: Rourke’s Indiana falls to No. 10 at Ohio State, Benefield’s No. 11 Boise State riding edge of CFP November 28, 2024
Ty Benefield’s No. 11 Boise State in 3rd straight Mountain West championship
Ty Benefield, a Boise State sophomore safety from Vancouver, British Columbia, is going to his second consecutive Mountain West championship game in two seasons, and the team is going to its third straight since 2022 on Dec. 6.
The Broncos moved up a spot to No. 11 in Tuesday night’s CFP rankings after a 17-13 win over Wyoming on Saturday. Benefield had another big game, leading the Boise State defense with seven solo tackles, finishing with eight total. This came just a week after the Canadian created two turnovers against San Jose State.
The last time Benefield played in the Mountain West championship in 2023, Boise State beat UNLV 44-20, winning his first and the team’s fourth since 2014 — the championship has only been active since 2013. Fellow Canadian safety Jett Elad, from Mississauga, Ontario, was a junior on that UNLV team, but didn’t play in the game due to an injury. There will be a championship rematch if UNLV beats Nevada on Saturday.
Bronco Sports.Com Fourteen Bronco players earn 2024 All-Mountain West honors Dec 4, 2024
Benefield is one of two MW players with multiple interceptions (2) and fumble recoveries (2). He has played a team-high 766 defensive snaps, totaling a team-high 65 tackles, including 49 solo. He has 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. The sophomore also has one forced fumble and has been on the field for 146 special teams plays. This is the first All-MW honor of Benfield’s career.
Herald and News Oregon State receiver Trent Walker plans return to Beavers for 2025 season Dec 4, 2024
Oregon State wide receiver Trent Walker, left, stiff-arms Boise State safety Ty Benefield after a reception in the first half Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boise, Idaho.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday Blitz.Com Canuck U: Elad, Benefield to fight for conference title; Djabome tackles Canadian milestone Dec 4, 2024
Boise State’s Ty Benefield, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia and played for Vancouver College, has a chance to win his second straight title. He’ll have to beat UNLV’s Jett Elad, from Mississauga, Ontario, who didn’t play in last year’s championship loss to the Broncos due to injury. Both Benefield and Elad were named All-Mountain West honorable mentions on Tuesday.
BoiseState_Fans – Instagram Dec 5, 2024 Graphic by @bostevens12
SportsNet.ca Conference championship preview: College Football Playoff spots at stake Dec 6, 2024
The Mountain West finalists both have key Canadian players. Boise State sophomore safety Ty Benefield of Vancouver is his team’s leading tackler, while Rebels senior defensive back Jett Elad of Mississauga, Ont., is third on his team in tackles. Both were named honourable mention all-Mountain West players.
Grid Iron Heroics Boise State Broncos: Fans Dump Goalposts in the River After Epic 21-7 Championship Win Dec 8, 2024
Ty Benefield, A’Marion McCoy, and Jeremiah Earby all had incredibly impressive games. Earby had the highest PFF defensive grade in the game with 7 targets, 1 catch allowed, an interception, and a PBU that should have been a 2nd interception.
Sportsnet.ca – Mike Koreen Canadian S Ty Benefield, Boise State aim to ‘shock the world’ in playoffs Dec 13, 2024
When Vancouver native Ty Benefield plays in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve, the Boise State Broncos’ sophomore safety will be taking another step toward completing his ultimate sporting mission.
Ty’s dad, Daved, played 13 seasons in the CFL as an import linebacker/defensive end from 1992-2005, being named a division all-star three times while playing for four teams. In the middle of that run was one NFL season in which he played through constant knee pain to suit up for the San Francisco 49ers in 1996.
“He’s the role model for me,” Ty Benefield, 19, said over the phone from the Idaho campus this week. “I do everything on the football field for him. His whole story, he wanted to be in The League for longer but it ended short because of injuries. That’s my pushing point. Every time I feel like I’m going to quit, I just think about him and his career and how he deserved to be in The League longer. That’s why I’m going to do that for him.”
Based on his play over two impressive years at a rapidly rising program, it would be unwise to doubt him.
After starting in five games and playing all 13 as a true freshman last year, Benefield was named an honourable mention Mountain West all-star this season, helping his team capture the conference crown and earn the No. 3 seed and a bye to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., as one of the top four conference champions in the U.S.
Not bad for a kid who didn’t even play defence until his senior year of high school in California. He started as a quarterback in Vancouver — the family’s adopted home after David’s two stints with the B.C. Lions — before trying his hand at receiver when he moved to California while living with his aunt and uncle.
“He has just been so dedicated,” said Daved Benefield, who splits up the trips with his wife A.J. to watch Ty and their daughter Addy, a volleyball player at the University of Washington.
“He never wanted to not play. (When he first got to university), he was like ‘Dad, there’s like 20 people in the room.’ This was the safety room. I was just like ‘Dude you’re a freshman, you’re not a five-star (recruit), you’re going to have to deal with a lot of stuff. You may not get to play.’ Next thing you know, we’re watching him play against Washington (in his rookie year), not just on (special) teams and he’s 17 years old.”
This year, Ty Benefield made 73 total tackles (up from 46 last year) and notched two interceptions for the 11-1 Broncos, who are known for playing on the famous blue turf at Albertsons Stadium.
Despite not playing in one of the four power conferences, Boise State was ranked ahead of Big 12 champion Arizona State and Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson. The Broncos, whose lone loss this year was a 37-34 setback on the road against top-ranked Oregon, await the winner of the Dec. 21 game between No. 7 Penn State and No. 10 SMU.
Along with enjoying great team success, Benefield has had a front-row seat to watch one of the best individual performances in the country. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has been a dominant force all season. He has rushed for 2,497 yards, more than 800 ahead of the second-ranked running back, and 29 touchdowns and is expected to battle Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter for the Heisman Trophy, which will be handed out Saturday night.
Barry Sanders’ single-season record of 2,628 yards (in 1988 with Oklahoma State) is very much in jeopardy.
“I’m so blessed to be able to have him as like a big brother,” Benefield said. “Even if he’s on the other side of the ball, I pick up so much when I’m talking to him or when I hear him talk. He cares about his whole team, he cares about absolutely everybody, coaches included. He’s just an unbelievable person. I can’t explain it, if you met him you would just pick that up right from the get-go — as soon as he smiles, when he shakes your hand and talks to you. He’s just such a good person.”
What’s it like practising against Jeanty?
“I remember the first time I got to meet him in a hole, I was just like ‘Holy, this dude is different,'” Benefield recalled with a chuckle. “I didn’t get run over or anything, but you don’t know what you’re going to get from him. He’s either going to shake you out of your cleats or run through your face. One on one, it’s him.”
Knowing Jeanty and the rest of the roster, and with the CFP field expanded to 12 from four teams this season, Benefield thought a playoff spot was a very realistic goal for the Broncos.
Still, there has been plenty of debate about whether the Broncos deserve to have a higher ranking than champions from power conferences.
If Boise State has to play a perennial national power like Penn State in a quarterfinal on a neutral field, it’s entirely possible the Broncos may be considered an underdog.
That won’t bother Benefield.
“There’s no way we can’t go out there and compete with these teams,” he said. “This is what we’ve dreamed of, this is what we’ve been talking about really since last year when they first were kind of teasing us with that whole idea (of making the playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions). People outside of this team definitely think we’re an underdog and we love it. We absolutely love when people think that. It’s going to fuel us, for sure.
“We’re just going to out there and work our hardest, play our hardest and shock the world.”
A glance at history proves this is indeed possible.
Back on New Year’s Day in 2007, Boise State was matched up against the Adrian Peterson-led Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl. Despite entering with an unbeaten record, Boise State was a 7.5-point underdog. In the end, it was the Broncos prevailing 43-42 in overtime.
Nearly 18 years later, the current Broncos would be thrilled to produce a similar story.
“It’s been great. It really has,” Daved Benefield said. “Watching him go from never playing safety other than flag football in Vancouver to being the kid coming up where people are saying he strikes people and is able to cover some of the kids he covers never being a corner, he has worked really hard at it.”
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Elad had 25 “stops” — a PFF stat: tackles that constitute a failure for the offense — this season, which was third-most among Mountain West safeties and one more than Boise State safety and fellow Canadian Ty Benefield.
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Jim Mullin and Gord Randall breakdown the five finalists for the Jon Cornish Trophy. Jim chats with the head coach of Team Canada’s national team Jesse Maddox.
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“All of us feel and know he should’ve won it,” Benefield told Canadian reporters this week. “But now that the whole thing is over … he (Jeanty) can just focus on himself, the Fiesta Bowl and running over whoever steps in his way.
“We’re mad about it still but the beautiful thing about this whole college football thing is you (must) have a short memory.”
His father, Daved, played linebacker and defensive end over 13 CFL seasons with Ottawa (1992-94), B.C. (1995, ’97-01), Winnipeg (2002-03) and Saskatchewan (2004-05) and spent the 1996 season with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. In 1995, he tied a CFL record with five sacks in a game against Birmingham.
“I didn’t get to be in the locker room when I was little because he stopped playing to be there for me and my mother … he wanted me to have a father figure there all the time,” Benefield said. “(The more) I uncover about him, he was that dude on the field.
“All I know is he’s my inspiration, he’s what I (model) my play after.”
Benefield credits his father with shaping him into the player he is today, though he admits he didn’t always appreciate or understand his guidance it growing up.
“He just pushed me every day … he coached me hard,” Benefield said. “But now looking back at those times, I’m like I needed that, I just was too young and too stupid to understand.
“If I had a good performance, he was like, ‘Yeah, you did good but this is what you could do better.’ I hated that but now that’s how I am. He has really put that mentality into me and just done an unbelievable job bringing me up.”
In today’s American college football, there’s plenty of players annually going to the transfer portal to play elsewhere. Benefield doesn’t plan on leaving Boise State and said earning an opportunity to play football professionally remains a long-term goal.
“I am where my two feet are,” he said. “I just see myself working hard every single day, putting my faith in God and trusting His plan, trusting the coaches’ plan … just really being able to get the opportunity to go to the (NFL) combine, then get drafted to play professional football, wherever that may be.
“That’s the beautiful thing, I don’t care where I go as long as I am playing.”
The lone blemish on Boise State’s record is a 37-34 loss to top-seeded Oregon on Sept. 7 despite leading 20-14 at halftime. Benefield said while the Broncos’ focus remains firmly on the Fiesta Bowl, they’d relish another shot at the Ducks for the national championship.
“That’s a matchup that was unfortunate, we let that one creep out,” Benefield said. “We’d definitely love another shot at them, for sure.
“But as of right now … we get to handle what’s in front of us and if they do what they’re supposed to then we’ll see them.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2024.
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Benefield, a six-foot-two, 204-pound sophomore safety, led Boise State in tackles (73), solo tackles (53) and interceptions (two) while also registering five tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two recoveries. The Broncos are the third seed in U.S. college football’s expanded playoff bracket and will face either Penn State or SMU in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.
The MW.com Benefield, Elad Named Finalists for Cornish Trophy Dec 20, 2024
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Boise State’s Ty Benefield and UNLV’s Jett Elad are among five finalists for the Cornish Trophy, given annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football. Elad is a finalist for the second straight year.
Benefield (Vancouver) and Elad (Mississauga, Ontario) are joined by Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor (Medicine Hat, Alberta), Rutgers linebacker Dariel Djaborne (Longueuil, Quebec) and Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario) as finalists. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec. 23.
Benefield leads the Broncos with 73 total tackles and 5.62 per game, while his 53 solo tackles also pace the squad. The sophomore safety also leads Boise State with a pair of interceptions and shares the MW lead with two fumbles recovered. Benefield, who has also forced a fumble and broken up three passes this season, has recorded 5.0 tackles for loss. He earned All-Mountain West honorable mention in 2024.
A former player at Ohio, Elad returned to the FBS level last fall with the Rebels after a stint at Garden City Community College in Kansas. As a senior this season, the defensive back earned All-Mountain West honorable mention after ranking third on the team with 85 total tackles. His stat line included 6.0 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the nationally ranked Rebels.
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Along with Ayomanor, other finalists for this year’s award include Boise State safety Ty Benefield, Rutgers linebacker Daniel Djabome, UNLV defensive back Jett Elad and Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who is the younger brother of two-time winner Nathan Rourke. The winner of the award will be announced on Monday, Dec. 23.
