Newberry College All-American Found Dead At His Home

Jacksonville, FL (AHN) - Heath Benedict, a two-time Little All-American offensive lineman at Division II Newberry College, was found dead on a couch in his home Wednesday night.

Jacksonville police said no foul play is suspected in the death of Benedict, 24. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound junior guard had planned to enter next month's NFL draft. He was projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.

Benedict redshirted at Tennessee in 2002 and transferred to Newberry in South Carolina for the 2004 season. The native of the Netherlands played high school football at the private Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J.

A Jacksonville police spokesman said Benedict's body was taken to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of death. The college's Web site claims Newberry, about 40 miles northwest of Columbia, is the safest city in the state.