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A second football player with scholarship offers has transferred to Crean Lutheran from Santa Margarita.
Senior wide receiver Ty Benefield announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he will be transferring to Crean Lutheran from Santa Margarita. Saints coach Rick Curtis confirmed on Wednesday that Benefield has already enrolled at Crean Lutheran.
Excited to announce that I’ll be transferring and attending @CreanFootball @theMatt_V @OCRegSports @adamgorney @gregbiggins @latsondheimer pic.twitter.com/PseU3uxeKF
— Ty “Buck” Benefield (@BenefieldTy) July 5, 2022
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Benefield holds offers from Washington, Boise State and BYU among others. He impressed with the Eagles earlier this summer at the USC passing tournament and will be a wide out to watch at the inaugural Newport Harbor 7-on-7 tournament on Saturday.
Last season, Benefield had 15 catches for 186 yards and two TDs at Santa Margarita.
In June, sophomore linebacker/tight end Carter Jones transferred to Crean Lutheran from Santa Margarita.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Jones holds offers from LSU, Mississippi, Cal, Oregon State, Louisville, Florida State, UTEP and Hawaii among others.
He saw limited time with the Eagles’ varsity last season.
Crean Lutheran finished 2021 with a 1-9 overall record, including an 0-5 mark in the Empire League for the third time in four seasons. The Saints also endured an emotional season with the death of Curtis’ wife Mary from cancer.
This fall, the team will be heavy on returning players, including quarterback Gavin Rogers and two-way lineman Cristian Viola. Crean Lutheran, however, hasn’t been known as a transfer destination for Santa Margarita players.
“Does it surprise me?” Curtis said of the transfers. “A little bit but our league is so tough. … (and) we’re building a program.”
Curtis was ousted as Santa Margarita’s coach after the 2015 season and coached at Capistrano Valley Christian before landing at Crean Lutheran for the 2020 campaign.
Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter
