Theo Benedet

Early life

Benedet was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended Handsworth Secondary School. He grew up a fan of the BC Lions but did not compete at football seriously until he was in 10th grade at Handsworth. He committed to play U Sports football for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds.

University career

Benedet immediately became a starter on the offensive line for UBC as a first year in 2019. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared in seven games during the 2021 season. In 2022, he was named first-team All-Canadian and was the winner of the J. P. Metras Trophy for best lineman nationally, helping the team have one of the best U Sports rushing offences along with reaching their first Hardy Cup in four years. He was the only U Sports player selected to the 2023 East–West Shrine Bowl. Although projected to be a top pick in the 2023 CFL draft along with fellow UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, they both opted to return for a final season. In 2023, Benedet repeated as a first-team All-Canadian selection and as the winner of the J. P. Metras Trophy, becoming the first offensive lineman to win the trophy twice in a row; he also helped the Thunderbirds reach the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2015.