Caleb Benenoch Impressed By Texas A&M, Texas No Longer Leader

It’s been a wild ride over the last few months for 2013 Katy (TX) Seven Lakes offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch.

Back in the spring, he was committed to Michigan State and his recruitment seemed over. Then, his stock began to explode, the offers started pouring in, and the 6-5, 321-pounder who projects as an interior lineman at the next level decided to open up his recruitment.

He picked up a Texas offer at a summer camp in early June after having some success against Texas pledge Jake Raulerson, who knows Benenoch from the camp circuit, and then picked up another from Oklahoma at a satellite camp in Houston. It was at that time that he decided to decommit from the Spartans.

Having grown up a Longhorn fan, Benenoch named Texas as his leader and had planned to announce during his homecoming game in late September. However, an offer from UCLA pushed back his timetable to after the season, and he currently plans on taking some of his official visits at that time.

The most recent trip for Benenoch was the short drive from the Houston area to College Station, where he took in the Texas A&M-Florida contest. The atmosphere impressed the big, raw lineman ($):

It was crazy, I give it a 10 out of 10. I’ve never seen anything like that before. From the moment we walked in, to when they started playing those videos, the crowd and the 12th Man, it was ridiculous. I couldn’t hear myself think sometimes because it was so loud. I got this chills standing on the sideline before the game.

It was the best college football environment I’ve ever seen. I’m looking forward to comparing it to all the other visits I take like when I go to UT, UCLA and places like that. Hands down, A&M was the best I’ve seen yet. Baylor was pretty crazy last weekend but it was on a whole different level at Kyle Field.

Kyle Field made such an impression on Benenoch that he backed off days later from talk that Texas is his leader ($):

Texas used to be, but I’m not too sure anymore. I went to the Texas A&M-Florida game and the atmosphere was really good. Now I just want to take these visits to games and see how it is at each school - see how the atmosphere is.

The next official visit for the Seven Lakes product is to Oklahoma next weekend to take in the game against Kansas State in the Big 12 opener for both schools.

With Benenoch now open-minded about the process, which school will eventually win out for his services?

For more on OU football, visit Oklahoma blog Crimson And Cream Machine.

For more on Horns football, visit Texas blogs Burnt Orange Nation and Barking Carnival, plus SB Nation Dallas.

For more on Aggies football, visit SEC blog Team Speed Kills and SB Nation Houston.

For more on Bruins football, visit UCLA blog Bruins Nation, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Los Angeles.