INDIANAPOLIS – He's four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, but Florida State wide receiver prospect Kelvin Benjamin can still appreciate the talents of 49ers wideout Anquan Boldin.
Both receivers use physicality as their best weapon.
Benjamin was complimentary of Boldin, the former Seminole all-time great, during a press conference at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. Both wideouts have more in common than sharing the same college. They also grew up in same part of Florida, an area known as "Muck City."
"He runs great routes," Benjamin, a potential first-round draft pick said of Boldin, a pending free agent for the 49ers. "He's very physical off the ball."
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Benjamin, himself, is not too shabby when it comes to making hard-nosed plays. He's viewed by many draft analysts as one of the best red-zone receivers in the upcoming draft. Benjamin caught 54 passes for 1,011 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the undefeated National Champions.
The Florida State prospect proved his ability to score in tight quarters in the BCS National Championship game.
With Auburn holding on to a lead late in the fourth quarter, Benjamin used his 6-foot-5, 240-pound body to shield off a defender and haul in a 2-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left in the game. He finished the game with four catches for 54 yards.
"It was a simple slant route," Benjamin said of his signature collegiate play. "I knew he (the cornerback) was thinking fade and so I tried to sell him on that fade route. Three steps out I got inside of him and just did what I do best, which is attack it at the highest point."
In addition to his well-known final catch in college, Benjamin is recognized as being one of the biggest play-makers in the upcoming draft.
With that unique size and speed, Benjamin expects to run a 4.3, 40-yard dash, the Florida State prospect believes he's the total package for his future NFL employer.
"I try to be smart, too," Benjamin said. "I watch a lot of receivers. I don't just watch the big guys; I try to watch the little guys, too. You watch the smaller guys to imitate their quickness off the line. Some guys, that first step, you can learn a lot from watching them do that."
Benjamin loves to compete and embraces press-man coverage. In his mind, physical cornerbacks are a welcomed challenge.
"I really just want to make my own identity," Benjamin said when asked about his desired role in the NFL. "Be that player that a lot of these guys growing up want to be."
