Interest increasing for Bench

In the month of June, Cairo (Ga.) quarterback Steven Bench has made his share of camp stops. At each stop, the 6-foot-2 and 205-pound pro-style signal caller is receiving good feedback with his performances.

Bench, who produced 1,496 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns as a junior, camped at Mississippi State at the first of June and has also made other camp stops in the SEC.

"I have been to Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida and Florida State recently," said Bench. "I did fine at Georgia but they said they were not taking a quarterback this year. I think I did well at Vanderbilt, too, and I may have an offer from them soon. They told me they are waiting to evaluate all their quarterback prospects after camps are finished.

"Then we got rained out at Florida and at Florida State, I honestly don't think I could have done much better. Their quarterback coach really seems to like me."

With MSU and Florida State, Bench believes an offer could be right around the corner depending on certain variables.

"I think Florida State may be waiting to see what Jameis Winston before they offer me. I think I am in the mix for an offer there and they are waiting to see what the timeframe will be.

"Mississippi State is recruiting me pretty good, too, and I really think an offer is coming soon from them, too. At the same time, I think they are waiting to see what Chad Voytik does. But I really think I am close to getting an offer from them. I wanted to come back for their Big Dawg Camp, too, but I can't because we will have already started our team practice at that time."

Bench currently holds offers from Rice, South Alabama, Jacksonville State, Samford and Georgia State. He also noted of the other interest he is getting and who is recruiting him the hardest.

"I get a good bit of mail from North Carolina State and Georgia Tech," said Bench. "Then I am getting good interest from the schools I camped at this summer.

"Of that group, I would say Mississippi State is recruiting me the hardest. But the way Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher talked to me has also stood out to me. I am just anxious to see what may happen the rest of this summer and see what options I may have."