FCHS senior football captain Benny Denby has officially signed to play football at William & Mary, marking the next step in a decade-long journey in the sport. Denby has been playing tackle football for nearly ten years and he credits his growth towards those who have helped shape his journey.
“I attribute my success to the Lord and all of my support systems, including my teammates, coaches, family, and friends,” Denby shared. “They have helped me through countless hardships and setbacks.”
This season, Denby faced the challenge of fully embracing his role as a leader, both on and off the field. He worked hard to stay disciplined in his faith and manage his emotions, even when faced with difficulties during games. “The toughest challenge that I faced this year was fully embracing the leader role 100% of the time,” Denby said. “Along with becoming more disciplined with my faith and emotions when things would go wrong on the field.”
Denby’s impact on the team has been clear throughout his career. Head football coach Mitchell Pace described him as “a cornerstone kind of player.” Pace noted how Denby’s presence was felt in every game. “Even though many other teams knew Benny was a key part of our system, he still had big yards and made huge plays for our football team,” he added.
Denby played tight end at Fluvanna County High School for three years under head coach Mitchell Pace. Over his high school career, he recorded 64 catches for 1,259 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named a two-time first-team all-district selection and earned first-team all-region and All-Central Virginia honors.
Looking ahead, Denby plans to major in business at William & Mary and is considering a minor in pre-physical therapy. He hopes to combine his passions for athletics and health by starting a sports medicine and athlete health program. “I want to help young athletes become stronger, more mobile, and stay injury-free,” Denby said. He also plans to stay connected to football by coaching at the collegiate level in the future.
See the attached Fluco TV video on the Dec. 4 signing day event in the cafeteria.
