Christian Bentancur is all about avoiding Groundhog Day. Not the movie—he actually has a unique connection to the film, as it was shot in his hometown of Woodstock, Illinois. "I didn't really know it was really filmed there for a while until I got to high school," he said. "It's cool to see like where I walk around every day is kind of where it was filmed."
Instead, the "Groundhog Day" Bentancur is looking to avoid is the one football players often experience after a redshirt season—repeating the same experience without a chance to contribute. He's been putting in work all offseason, with a mindset focused on making an impact.
"It's just putting a lot of work in the offseason," Bentancur said. "Just trying to do what I can for the team and whatever it is, blocking, pass catching, you know, I'm just trying to work my tail off and earn some reps out there."
Bentancur's first year in college was a whirlwind of new things, a "big jump" from high school. He credits the older players in the tight end room, like Jake Briningstool and Olsen Patt-Henry, for helping him navigate the complexities of the position. "Being a tight end is not just like being a receiver where you run a bunch of routes, you know, you got to block inside and be outside," he explained.
The tight end room is full of talent, with a competitive atmosphere that Bentancur believes is making everyone better. "We're all trying to push each other," he said. "Obviously, there's competition in the room, but that's just making us all better. We're all growing from this, and we're hoping to be a 1A, 1B, 1C and all top down, to be someone if someone goes in, then they're just as good as the person that came out."
He's particularly impressed with Olsen Patt-Henry's movement, calling his ability to run routes "impressive" and something he loves to watch on tape.
One of the newest additions to that room is former Clemson basketball star Ian Schieffelin, and Bentancur, a basketball player himself, is loving the dynamic. "He's fit in just with all of us," Bentancur said. "We love to joke around about everything." And when it comes to who's the best on the court, Bentancur isn't backing down. "I'd like to say confidently, I think I'm still the best basketball player in the room," he stated with a smile.
The weather during fall camp has been a pleasant surprise—not as hot as expected. Bentancur sees it as a positive, but also appreciates the challenge of a tough day. "It builds toughness," he said. And the team itself? He's feeling great about their progress. "I think we got the best offensive defense in the nation, and we just got to go out and prove it."
As for his own identity, Bentancur has heard the comparisons to former Clemson tight end Davis Allen, but he's more focused on forging his own path. "I'm just trying to be my own person and see where that goes from there." He's also been impressed with true freshman Logan Brooking, who, like himself, has a lot to learn but is showing great potential. "The more he learns, the better he gets," Bentancur said.
For Christian Bentancur, the redshirt season is over. And this fall, he's ready to show that there's nothing "Groundhog Day" about his game.