Benzschawel closes college career

Beau Benzschawel found that the Senior Bowl experience is about more than just the game.

The All-American University of Wisconsin guard and Grafton High School alumnus was selected to play as one of the top seniors in college.

Benzschawel played for the North team, which beat the South, 34-24, on Saturday afternoon in Mobile, Ala. He opened holes for running backs and did well in pass blocking. He was flagged for one holding penalty.

Benzschawel’s mother Barcy and girlfriend Jacqueline Luy went down for the game.

The North was led by Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and his staff, who slapped Raiders stickers on players’ college helmets after making a good play.

Benschawel earned multiple stickers.

His NFL exposure wasn’t limited to one team, however. Benschawel met with  scouts and representatives from other NFL teams throughout the week.

“He said it was a very hard week. So much pressure. Constant interviews. His phone was full all the time,” Barcy said.

Players were busy from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day of the week and they had to be “on” all the time as inquiries from pro teams kept coming, Barcy said.

Players signed autographs at a convention center on Friday.

They were organized by conference, but Barcy said Alabama and Auburn had their own section since their lines were twice as long. Bucky

Badger and other teams’ mascots played with children as families waited.

Benzschawel is signed with agent Joe Panos, a former Wisconsin and NFL star lineman, and has been training in California for the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 26 through March 4. Players at the Combine perform physical and mental tests for NFL teams ahead of the draft April 25 to 27 in Nashville.

He will also participate in the University of Wisconsin’s pro day during which players perform tests for NFL teams.

After the Senior Bowl, Benzschawel returned to California — where it is 73 degrees ­— to resume training for both events.

“He loves California. He loves what he’s doing,” Barcy said.