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Bennett eyes NFL scenario

A&M tight end says he might go in April

By BRIAN DAVIS
The Dallas Morning News

After a month-long silence, Martellus Bennett met with reporters at Texas A&M's weekly media luncheon Tuesday. He said he simply "took a break like Tiger Woods."

The loquacious tight end cracked wise as usual. But Bennett turned serious at one point and said he'll likely jump into the NFL Draft this April if he's considered a first- or second-round pick.

"You've got to get out while you're hot," Bennett said. "That's what I told Reggie [Bush]."

Bennett never said he was disappointed about coming to A&M. The 6-foot-7 junior said he was lured by the pass-oriented offense used in 2004. But A&M switched to the option, and now many believe Bennett, once the nation's No. 1 tight end recruit, has gone underutilized.

When asked whether he could show his skills at the NFL scouting combine, Bennett said, "I'm going to have to do it somewhere. As far as blocking and running after the catch, I've been doing the best I can."

Bennett said people tell him every day that he should leave A&M for the NFL.

"But those people don't have an impact on my life," he said. "People tell me I should go rob a bank with them, but I don't do it. People tell me to do stuff all the time."

As for the decision, Bennett said he'll talk with coach Dennis Franchione and get his input. But mostly, "I talk to my brother for a long time about it, my dad, my mom and my little sister."

In 31 career games, Bennett has 80 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns. Many A&M fans expected more. So did Bennett. As for why that hasn't happened, Bennett said, "I have no idea.

"I've been working hard, doing everything I've been told to do. I've been taking in everything like coaching and all that. I've just got to work on something else.

"When Reggie [McNeal] was here, they were throwing that thing. I don't know how Reggie didn't make the NFL, but he had a cannon for an arm. He was one the best quarterbacks I've ever seen as far as pocket presence and everything."

Bennett signed with A&M in February 2005 after McNeal set the school's season passing record with 2,791 yards.

Around that same time, A&M coach Dennis Franchione was considering a switch to the option. The Aggies went full bore in that direction the following season. Bennett played in 11 games and made just 18 catches.

Bennett had 38 catches last season for 497 yards. Still, he caught only three touchdown passes.

This season, he had 17 catches in the first four games. But Bennett had one catch against Baylor and two against Oklahoma State. He had four against Texas Tech before suffering an ankle injury in the second half.

Bennett missed last week's game against Nebraska, but he expects to return this week against No. 12 Kansas (7-0, 3-0 Big 12).

Bennett said he went shopping with a friend in Houston instead of listening to the A&M radio broadcast.

"I've got ADD. It's hard for me to listen to the radio, unless it's just music," Bennett said.

"Listen to Dave South talk for an hour and a half? Wasn't looking forward to that. So I just waited until Sunday to watch the film."

n Brian Davis' e-mail address is brdavis@dallasnews.com.