Caleb Benenoch recruiting updates: Decision nearing, but is there a leader?

Caleb Benenoch signs with UCLA

The big guard is part of a strong offensive line class for the Bruins.

Caleb Benenoch commits to the UCLA Bruins

The four-star Katy (TX) Seven Lakes prospect chose the Bruins over finalists Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Caleb Benenoch sets decision date

After visiting Baylor over the weekend, 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch said that he was planning on making a decision this week. On Wednesday, he revealed that his long-awaited announcement will happen just a little bit later than previously expected:

Katy Seven Lakes 4-star Caleb Benenoch plans to announce his decision between #UCLA, #Baylor, #UT, #OU on Monday morning

— Jason Howell (@RivalsJason) December 5, 2012

As mentioned, the decision will come down to Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas, and UCLA, all schools that have received visits from Benenoch this fall.

After visiting Texas A&M back in September for the SEC opener against Florida, the 6-6, 320-pounder dropped Texas from the leading position on his list, only to move them back to the top after witnessing the raucous atmosphere in Austin for the West Virginia game in early October.

In recent weeks, the Seven Lakes product has not been willing to name a leader, sparking speculation that the Longhorns are fading in the race for his services.

On Monday the world will know the accuracy of that assessment.

Caleb Benenoch nearing decision following Baylor visit

Last weekend, 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch took his official visit to Waco to see the Baylor Bears take down the Oklahoma State Cowboys in what could have been his final trip before making his decision.

The 6-6, 320-pounder expects to declare a choice by the end of the week and is down to four finalists -- Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas, and UCLA. If he has a leader, he has not been willing to share that information with the public in recent weeks.

There was a major appeal to his trip to Waco, however:

Every visit I been on the team I was going to see lost their game .. Except Baylor. Won both times

— Caleb Benenoch (@CalebBenenoch79) December 2, 2012

Indeed, UCLA lost to Stanford on his recent official, Texas lost to West Virginia back in October, and Oklahoma was taken down by Kansas State in late September.

Of course, wins and losses on visits are rarely the determining factor in recruitments, so Benenoch shared his perspective on his four finalists as he nears a final decision.

After taking in Baylor, Benenoch sounded impressed with multiple aspects ($) of the program:

I've always wanted to go up there and get a more in depth look. I got to talk to some people from the law school which is one of the best in the country. I got to hang out with coach Kaz, the strength coach, who I absolutely love. The things he does with the players is absolutely amazing. I got to spend a lot of time with coach Clements who is one of the best offensive line coaches.

Even with seven offensive linemen committed in the 2013 class, Benenoch believes he still has a shot at early playing time ($) in Westwood with senior guard Jeff Baca graduating:

They want me to come in and play. When I get on campus I'd get in shape, learn the offense and they'd expect me to compete for that spot. It's on my shoulders if I choose to go to UCLA whether I get that spot or not.

Asked about Texas, Benenoch spoke to Rivals once again about the school being his childhood favorite. However, that hasn't been enough recently for the big prospect to keep them as his public leader. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is considered to be behind the top group of Baylor, Texas, and UCLA.

With days until the expected announcement from Benenoch, there's still a significant amount of mystery surrounding his ultimate destination -- if he's made up his mind already, there's no way of telling from any information made public.

Caleb Benenoch talks UCLA visit, leader

What kid wouldn't want to take in a game at the Mecca of college football, the Rose Bowl?

Count 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch as one of those kids who did -- the coveted mauler made his way out to see the rising UCLA program under Jim Mora, Jr. suffer a loss to Stanford.

Despite the loss, Benenoch came away impressed with multiple facets of the program:

The visit was really cool. I had a lot of fun. For me, the coaching staff and players stood out the most. They were all cool guys. It definitely stacked up to the other visits I've taken.

For any prospect straying across the country, developing some type of familiarity can be important. For Benenoch, a couple fellow Texans helped him feel right at home ($):

It was a lot of fun. I got to hang out with players like Simon Goines. He's from Keller, Texas, so we had a lot to talk about since we're both Texas guys. Their center is also a Texas guy, and there were lots of people I can relate to.

I'm glad I took it. I got to see a lot of things I'd wanted to see and talked to the coaches. I got a good feel from taking that visit. I'm happy I took it.

Some believe that the current offensive linemen may not be the biggest factor in Benenoch's recruitment by UCLA -- that would be the seven other offensive lineman the Bruins already have committed for the 2013 class.

Like most top athletes, though, the Seven Lakes product says that he's not worried about the other prospects already set to head to Westwood:

With the division I play in in high school and the competition I play, going out there and competing for a spot isn't something that bothers me. You've got to earn your spot every week. It doesn't matter how many people they get.

Surely music to the ears of UCLA coaches and fans.

After an official visit to Baylor next weekend, Benenoch will be ready to make his decision about a week later. He shared some perspective on where his stands in the process:

I'll be keeping my favorites to myself for now. But I'll be picking from UCLA, Texas, Baylor and OU. It's going to come down to a combination of things for me, including the family atmosphere, how I fit in with the players, how I fit in with the coaches and the academic prestige.

Unseated briefly, Texas had been the leader for the 6-6, 320-pounder since offering him back in June.

Are the Longhorns still in the best position to land Benenoch? Only he knows, but fans of each of those four schools won't have to wait long to find out.

Caleb Benenoch taking official visit to UCLA

An official visit for 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch will go down this weekend when the 6-5, 320-pounder travels out to California to visit the UCLA Bruins:

UCLA official this weekend! #hype

— Caleb Benenoch (@CalebBenenoch79) November 20, 2012

It will be the sole opportunity for UCLA to make an impression on Benenoch, who plans on making a decision soon after he gets back to the state of Texas. The Bruins entered his recruitment in September when they extended an offer, even though seven of the 19 commits in the current UCLA class are offensive line prospects.

The Longhorns have been the leaders since offering in the summer, with only a brief stretch in September when they were de-throned before regaining pole position following a trip for the West Virginia. An offer from Oklahoma shortly after Texas entered the picture for the former Michigan State commit helped the Sooners until they took a hit based on Benenoch's assessment of the school's academic reputation. Baylor is also in the mix.

Benenoch may take official visits to Texas and Baylor once he returns from California, but has not yet scheduled either.

An athletic but raw prospect, Benenoch has improved enough over recent months that some are now considering him a possible right tackle prospect, despite the fact that he was limited through most of his senior season by a high ankle sprain.

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Texas Leading Again For Caleb Benenoch

The raucous atmosphere at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium over the weekend was enough to convince 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch that the Texas Longhorns are once again the leader for his services.

Following the Texas A&M-Florida game back in September, Benenoch had dropped his long-time leaders from their perch atop his list.

The 6-6, 320-pounder had a glowing review of his experience ($):

I had a lot of fun. It was a blast getting to hang out with all the recruits and commits and watch a big game. I don’t know if that’s what DKR is like all the time, but that was terrific. It was a lot of fun. It was ridiculously loud and everybody was chanting the whole game.

A lifelong Longhorn fan who was rumored to be a silent commitment for some time immediately after receiving his offer from Texas back in early June, sounded like he may have been close to ending his recruitment over the weekend:

Every time I go to UT, it’s harder and harder to come back without committing while I’m there. I’m a big fan and I love the program and everything about it.

Benenoch spoke with Hookem.com about his favorites ($):

My top four now is Texas, Baylor, OU and then UCLA in that order. Baylor and OU are kind of tied though.

Benenoch plans on making his decision after taking an official visit to UCLA, which will happen after his senior season.

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