Where Are They Now?: Andre Bennett

Andre Bennett’s mom dropped me a line with an update on the former standout offensive lineman.

Bennett, who played last season with Ohio’s Mahoning Valley in the arenafootball2 league, is back at his prep alma mater, Vicksburg High. He’s working as the varsity offensive line coach and ninth-grade assistant coach.

With Bennett’s assistance, Vicksburg and head coach Alonzo Stevens finished 9-3 in a season that included a thrilling three-game winning streak against Warren Central, Hazlehurst and Callaway. The Gators then advanced to the second round of the Mississippi high school playoffs.

Bennett’s mother passed along this quote from Andre on his time playing af2 ball in wintry Youngstown, Ohio: “One of the first days I was there, I went outside to go to the store and there was snow all over the place,” he said. “I’m not used to snow and I took a step and went straight down. The snow was up to my knees.”

Bennett started three seasons at Grambling through 2006, providing critical support upfront for an offense that led the nation in 2005 on the way to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. He was first-team All-SWAC in 2004 and 2006, and second team in ‘05.