Mount Greylock Regional School graduate Jake Benzinger Saturday signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals shortly after the conclusion of the NFL Draft, according to his college football program.

 

At just after 7 p.m., the Wake Forest University football program announced on Twitter that the senior offensive tackle is, "On his way to Arizona!."

 

"I could not be prouder of Jake," said Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson, a Williams College graduate, on Twitter. "He was an under-recruited player, who through sheer determination and work ethic willed himself into being an outstanding tackle.

 

"His frame, athleticism and work ethic will make him a valuable member of any team his part of."

 

Benzinger helped the Demon Deacons go to four bowl games, the first four-year post-season run in the school's history.

 

Wake Forest in 2019 appeared in the top 25 polls for the first time in a decade, and it won the "Big Four" title, beating North Carolina, N.C. State and Duke all in the same season for just the eighth time in 100 tries.

 

On Saturday afternoon, Benzinger watched two of his Wake Forest teammates hear their names called on ESPN during its coverage of the latter rounds of the draft.

 

Late in the fifth round, the Denver Broncos picked Wake outside linebacker Justin Strnad. One round later, Benzinger's O-line teammate Justin Herron was picked up by the New England Patriots with the 195th pick overall in the 255-player draft.

 

The Cardinals had seven picks in the seven-round draft, starting on Thursday night in prime time, when they selected linebacker Isaiah Simmons from Wake's ACC rival Clemson with the No. 8 pick overall in the draft.

 

Arizona picked up an offensive tackle with its second pick of the draft, taking Houston's Josh Jones with the No. 72 pick overall.