Jordan Hamm
Former Notre Dame Prep guard and Scottsdale native Cade Bennett will return to the Big 12 after he announced his transfer to TCU on Monday.
He is a grad transfer and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Committed🐸🟣 #riffram 🟣🐸 @TCUFootball pic.twitter.com/mGMfHNW4YK
— Cade Bennett (@cadealanbennett) December 11, 2023
“Ultimately when I decided between best school, best place to make the NFL, best NIL situation, the whole package, I decided to commit to Texas Christian University,” Bennett told Sports360AZ.
(Editor’s note: The NIL conversations were with collectives, not the university itself and would involve marketing and community activities.)
The 6-foot-3.5, 308-pound interior offensive lineman spent the last two years at San Diego State, where he was an All-Mountain West performer. He was a member of the class of 2020 and spent his first two years of college at Oklahoma State.
#aztec4life🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/WuufkEGDql
— Cade Bennett (@cadealanbennett) December 11, 2023
Now with TCU, he can’t wait to play under offensive line coach A.J. Ricker.
“They need guys that can run schemes that I’m good at,” Bennett said. “They need guys that can run counter well, that can run inside zone well and pass protect. I really enjoyed all the coaches my family did as well.”
Over two years, Bennett appeared in 26 games and started 23 of them with the Aztecs.
According to Pro Football Focus, he logged a 83.3 pass block grade. That rating was tied for first among guards in the conference.
Cade Bennett Transfer Portal Experience
Bennett received instant interest when he entered the portal. He received offers from the likes of TCU, Arizona State, Mississippi State, California, UCF, Oregon State, Virginia Tech and Houston.
It was a hectic few weeks, and the Horned Frogs and Arizona State separated themselves in the process.
“There was a big part of me that thought I would be staying home and going to Arizona State,” Bennett said. “I have all the respect in the world for Coach Dillingham, (offensive line coach Saga Tuitele) and the whole program. It just didn’t work out that way. Evaluating everything at this point, I’ve been through the whole process and I just found that TCU had what was right for me.”
Bennett wants to pursue a career in either entrepreneurship or real estate post-football, whenever that may be. He mentioned TCU’s master programs helped add to an already impressive opportunity in Fort Worth.
He’s ready to continue to develop within the Frogs program and reach the next level in the next few years.
“I’m always improving speed, just blocking in open space,” Bennett said. “Those are two things that I’m always trying to work hard on. That’s what separates you from the pack.”
And while the Big 12 has seen some changes since Bennett last played there, he’s ready to return to the conference where his college career started.
“Big 12 is a great conference,” Bennett said. “Obviously, it’s a little different but still a great conference. (It’s a) bigger conference now and I’m excited. It’s big-time ball so I’m really pumped.”
