With the NFL season back in full swing, Joey Franchize caught up with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tackle, Caleb Benenoch to talk about the season, his favorite songs to warm-up to before games, Jay-Z teaming up with the NFL, playing at UCLA with Diddy's son Justin & more!
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00:00It's Wild 94.1, Wild 94.1.com, Joey Franchise, Papi Shampoo.
00:04Man, it's the NFL season's upon us, and it's only right that I bring my homie,
00:08Caleb Beninock, in the building.
00:10What's going on?
00:10Tackle for the Bucs, number 77.
00:13Make sure you peep him on them Sundays.
00:14Bro, how you doing, man?
00:15Good, bro, how are you?
00:16Not bad.
00:16How you, uh, how you, are you ready for this 2019, 2020 season, bro?
00:20Yeah, man, super excited.
00:21I've been waiting for it for a long time, and so I'm excited to get it going.
00:23Now, how crazy have, like, practice been?
00:25Like, what is it?
00:26You practice even on the offseason, too.
00:28But, yeah, offseason, I mean, it's year-round for us.
00:30We train year-round.
00:31Offseason, you know, I train in L.A., I practice sports performance.
00:34Been going there for a few years now to get us good work.
00:36But, yeah, it's a year-round thing, man.
00:37Training, eating right, taking care of your body, massages, all that kind of stuff.
00:40Now, how hard is it?
00:42Like, you're a tall dude, bro.
00:43And, like, to be, to, you know, play your position, you know,
00:47you're moving a lot of weight on the other team.
00:49Yeah.
00:49Like, how do you, like, mentally either prepare yourself
00:51or physically prepare yourself for something like that?
00:54Man, like, it's a lot of fun for me.
00:56You know, you watch a film, you get your hair right.
00:58I love listening to music, you know, but, like, I just, I really enjoy the game.
01:01I love playing it.
01:02So, as soon as I get to put the pads on, like, you just get ready.
01:05Your mentality just changes and, you know, you get after it.
01:07Now, you mentioned the music thing.
01:08I wanted to ask you, like, what kind of gets you pumped up before, you know,
01:11any practice or any game?
01:12Like, especially, like, this upcoming Sunday, like, what's going to get you right?
01:15Yeah, man, I got so much, like, wide variety of my music.
01:18But, like, right now, the YSL, that whole gang, Thug, Gunna, Lil' Key,
01:22and all those guys, you know, made great pump-up music, turn-up music.
01:25And so, I actually got that on before the games.
01:27Yeah, that's what's up.
01:28And Thug's got the number one album in the country right now, which is so much fun.
01:32Great records.
01:32Favorite records right off that album, off top?
01:34Man, Hot, Surf, I think it's I'm Scared with 21 Savage.
01:40Yeah.
01:41Just Do It, I think is the other one.
01:43Like, the whole thing is crazy, but, like, those are my top ones.
01:47That's what's up.
01:47You're also Nigerian.
01:49Yeah.
01:49So, there's a lot of Nigerian artists that are popping off right now.
01:53You've got Davido, who's making a wave.
01:55Wizkid.
01:56Wizkid.
01:57And Burner Boy, who's actually popping off, too.
01:59Yeah.
02:00Man, how does that feel, like, being Nigerian and seeing, like, you know,
02:03stuff that you maybe came up to or your family came up to listening to?
02:05Yeah.
02:05Because Afrobeat is huge right now.
02:07Yeah.
02:08Like, what's it like not only seeing that, you know, from a music standpoint,
02:11but also from, you know, an athletic standpoint for yourself and other athletes?
02:15It just gives me great pride in my culture and, you know, my heritage.
02:17And hearing that kind of music come on, like, when you're out with your friends
02:20or whatever, it's just – it gives you a great sense of pride, man.
02:22And so, it's great to see that popping off right now.
02:25No doubt.
02:25And, you know, to stay on the music topic, too, we saw earlier this offseason before –
02:31well, just a couple weeks ago, Jay-Z announced that he's going to be getting
02:34involved with a lot of the entertainment for either Super Bowl halftime show
02:38or just overall NFL entertainment, period.
02:42What is your take on that?
02:43How do you feel about that, especially with all the Cal and Kaepernick stuff
02:45that happened?
02:46Like, do you think Hope is actually doing right by it by taking the proper,
02:50necessary step after, you know, what Kaep was standing for?
02:53I mean, you give him a chance and you see what he does for the community.
02:55And he's a smart guy.
02:56And, you know, I think he has the right, you know, mindset and the right vision.
03:00Which is just, you know, you hope that he does right by that situation.
03:03And, you know, I think you just wait and see and don't judge him on anything yet
03:06because, you know, nothing's happened yet.
03:07Now, who would you want to see perform?
03:10I know it's probably like a young thug or an either YSL team,
03:12but who would you picture performing maybe at a Tampa Bay halftime show?
03:16I know this upcoming – we got Tim McGraw.
03:19Yeah.
03:19This upcoming week on the pregame.
03:21I mean, see, like, if you were talking about, like, the halftime show,
03:23you want somebody who's going to, like, perform and, like, you know,
03:25have a lot of background stuff and, like, a huge, like, you know, show.
03:29Like, Kanye West, like, does, like, really big extravagant shows.
03:31Travis Scott, those kind of guys.
03:33Like, Young Thug, and those guys make great records.
03:35But I don't know about, like, a halftime show.
03:37Like, I think – I'm a big fan of Smino and, like, Dreamville.
03:40Okay.
03:40Like, J. Cole, my favorite artist, like, hands down.
03:42And, like, so the whole Dreamville team, those guys are great.
03:44And I think they'll put on, like, a real dope show with, like, some cool –
03:47you know, just, like, a cool vibe to it.
03:49You know, I think that'll be a dope thing to go watch.
03:51That would not be a bad deal at all, too.
03:52I saw J. Cole over at Dreamfest.
03:55Yeah.
03:55Dreamville Fest out in South Carolina.
03:57Was it?
03:58Yeah, South Carolina.
03:59And, man, like, the whole vibe, just the atmosphere.
04:02It's crazy.
04:02I got to see him last year, I think, during camp when he was down here.
04:06We had got an off game.
04:07And so I went out there with the Go Peepers concert down here with Young Thug
04:10and Jaden Smith.
04:10And, like, that was amazing.
04:12That was a lot of fun.
04:12Now, have any celebrities, like, pulled up?
04:14Like, I know Hulk Hogan's, like, showed up to certain, like, functions
04:17or whatever that the team does.
04:19Have you ever been starstruck by seeing any, like, celebrity pop up
04:22or former player pop up at any of your practices or walkthroughs or anything?
04:27Yeah.
04:27I mean, it's, like, I went to UCLA, and so, like,
04:30I've been kind of just entrenched in that whole, you know,
04:32I see celebrities.
04:34P. Diddy's still played on my team.
04:35That's right.
04:36Oh, damn, that's right.
04:37And so, like, all those guys always be a practice.
04:39Snoop, P. Diddy, you know, like, I'm blanking right now,
04:44but a lot of people pop up.
04:45Like, Serena Williams is out there.
04:46Yeah.
04:47It's, like, it's crazy.
04:48So, for me, it's, like, it's kind of got normal.
04:50That's right.
04:51And Justin did play for UCLA.
04:52Now, you guarded.
04:53You were basically, you know, on that line.
04:57Were you on the line when he was, like, running,
04:59or did you guys just practice?
05:00Oh, Justin.
05:00Did he ever start?
05:01He played DB.
05:02He was a defensive guy.
05:03Oh, he was DB.
05:03All right, I thought he was running back.
05:04He was a defensive guy.
05:04And so, but no, we were teammates for my whole time at UCLA.
05:07And what was that atmosphere now?
05:08I remember that that time it got kind of spicy
05:11because, I guess, Diddy came at your coach at the time.
05:14Yeah, they had a misunderstanding.
05:15I wasn't there, so I don't really, I'm not privy to all the details,
05:18but they had a little misunderstanding.
05:20But it never affected, like, anybody's relationship with Justin.
05:22He's a great kid, great dude.
05:23Do you still keep up with him?
05:24Not as much.
05:25You know, we say what's up from here to here on social media.
05:26But, you know, he's doing his thing.
05:28He's living his life.
05:28So, I'm happy for him.
05:29Yeah, he's doing well.
05:30That's what's up.
05:30Caleb Beninock here, man, Tampa Bay Bucs in the building.
05:34Now, I got to talk, like, you probably, I see a lot of athletes,
05:39like Russell Westbrook, Cam Newton, you know, very style, you know, eccentric,
05:46and, you know, they always do the big, crazy outfits and stuff like that.
05:51Now, you're not so much like that.
05:53You're more, are you more drip or more, like, how would you describe your style?
05:57Because I saw, we hung out this past weekend, and it was just like, you know,
06:00I was like, yo, my man Steez is, I rock with it.
06:03He might be the best style player I've seen in a while.
06:05I appreciate that.
06:06I appreciate that.
06:07Yeah, I love fashion.
06:07I got into it really big when I was in college, just kind of seeing the atmosphere in L.A.,
06:11how everybody dresses, how people move.
06:12I think it's a great way to express yourself.
06:14And so, like, for me, it's like a big part of my life,
06:16and just expressing myself and, you know, my creative aspects of my life.
06:20And, but, like, I don't know what to call it, man.
06:22I would say I got a lot of drip, but at the same time, like,
06:25I like a nice, like, suit, you know, sometimes, and, like, I like to be bespoke.
06:29And, like, so it's just, like, I'm real adventurous and expressive.
06:32And, like, I think the biggest thing in fashion is just understanding,
06:34having the confidence when to try different things,
06:36and then, like, knowing how to dress for, like, your body type
06:39and, like, for your, like, you know, comfortability.
06:41And, like, I think you'd be good, but I love it a lot.
06:43And now, would you say you're the best dressed player on the team?
06:46Man, I'll say I'm up there for sure.
06:49The best dressed offensive lineman, or lineman, period.
06:51But Bernard Hargrave has got a lot of swag.
06:54Okay.
06:56Buck, we just got from Arizona, he's got a lot of swag, too.
06:59You know, Peyton Barber.
07:00There's a lot of guys on the team who, you know, they dabble in it.
07:02I see Justin Evans pop up a few times.
07:04Yeah, Justin Evans, yeah.
07:05I see Justin Evans pop up a few times at one of my spots I shop at.
07:08Yeah, but Noah Spence used to be with us.
07:10He had a lot of drip, too.
07:11And so, like, yeah, a lot of guys on there, you know, they get out.
07:13Now, do you see yourself dabbling in fashion, like, after football?
07:18Almost definitely.
07:19I really started getting into, you know, design and, like, the creative space.
07:23Like, I've dabbled in making clothing brands before, and I want to focus more on that when I'm done playing football and stuff like that.
07:28But, you know, I want to go and, you know, go back to school and learn design and learn how to, you know, like, do interior design, do architecture and all that kind of stuff.
07:35And I want to get into a real creative space.
07:36So, I'm definitely looking to get into that one.
07:38Now, who are, I know you have a lot of favorite, like, high designer brands.
07:41But who would you say, like, influences, you know, the style you want to go for when it comes to going back, you know, when you want to do design your own clothes and things like that?
07:49Yeah.
07:49I mean, my favorite designer right now is Virgil Ablo, Louis Vuitton, Off-White.
07:54Those two of my favorite brands.
07:55I just, like, he's a visionary, in my opinion.
07:58I just like the way he puts things together, how everything is so unique in his own, and how he can take, like, streetwear to, like, high fashion.
08:04And, like, that's, like, the same thing now.
08:06And it's, like, this real dope movement.
08:08But, you know, I love a lot of people, like, ACW, YSL.
08:10Yeah, Cold Wall's really dope.
08:11Real, real dope.
08:13Mary, of course.
08:14Like, you know, I'm into a lot of things.
08:16But it's hard to find stuff that fits me all the time.
08:18So, I stick to brands that I can get into.
08:21Now, you seem like you're dabbling in a lot of stuff.
08:23You know, you're heavy into music.
08:24You're heavy into fashion.
08:26Are you into video games at all?
08:27Does Madden play a part in your life?
08:29Do you look at Madden as a tool to kind of get yourself ready or look at certain playbooks?
08:34Like, how accurate is it?
08:35Crazy enough, like, I really don't play Madden.
08:36I'm a big FIFA guy.
08:38I respect that.
08:38I am, too.
08:39Love FIFA.
08:39Love soccer.
08:40Russell is my favorite team.
08:41Like, Ron Dino is my favorite player.
08:44But big FIFA guy.
08:45So, I play that most of the time.
08:46So, you don't care what your Madden rating is at all?
08:48If ever.
08:49Do you ever look at that?
08:49Because I know guys are getting upset.
08:51I don't even know what mine is for this year.
08:52Like, I didn't check it out.
08:53I haven't even looked either.
08:54I haven't done with the game.
08:55I'm a big FIFA guy.
08:56That's what's up.
08:56Same here.
08:57Who's your team?
08:58Barcelona.
08:59Big fan of Barcelona.
09:00Messi's the GOAT, in my opinion.
09:02But Ronald Dino is my personal favorite player I ever watched.
09:05Say less.
09:05That's what's up right there.
09:06Do you play 2K at all?
09:08I do.
09:08My player.
09:10Okay.
09:10Big 2K my player guy.
09:12I don't play well.
09:12How nice are you in the park?
09:13The park, I'm decent.
09:14But, like, I will kill it in all the games.
09:17Like, I feel like I really feel like I'm in the NBA sometimes when I get in there.
09:19When I get in my zone, like, you just start getting a little flow in the neighborhood.
09:22So, I love 2K.
09:24Dog, I literally just bought the game today.
09:25So, like, after this, I'm literally about to be home.
09:27And I'm about to be chilling, like, all four minutes.
09:29Before I pulled up, it was downloaded.
09:30I'm like, come on.
09:30Just give me five more minutes.
09:32But, yeah, man.
09:32It's a lot of fun.
09:33That's what's up.
09:34Getting back to the game, who is the hardest person that you've ever had to, like, you
09:40know, protect Jameis against?
09:42Man, I played a lot of great players, man.
09:44Like, my first time starting at tackle, my second year, I went through a gauntlet of, like,
09:51Clay Matthews, Ziggy Ansah, Tack McKinley, Julius Peppers, and Cam Jordan from New Orleans.
10:01All really, really good players.
10:03Cam Jordan, I think, at tackle, is the best player that I've played against just because
10:06he brings it every single play.
10:08Like, he does not take a play off.
10:09It doesn't matter if it's the backside.
10:10From play one to play 90, he is going 100%.
10:13He's a really good player.
10:15And so, that was, like, a good day of work, and it was a lot of fun.
10:17And then, I think on the interior, when I played guard last year, Fletcher Cox and Akeem
10:21Hicks are two, like, outstanding players.
10:23And it's like, even though you get – you can do everything right instead of a long day with
10:26those guys.
10:27And so, those are some of the best guys that I've played against.
10:29But everybody in the NFL is super talented.
10:31You know what I'm saying?
10:31I can imagine.
10:32Yeah, man.
10:33You got to come to work every single day.
10:34It's fun, though.
10:35And, like, how do you block out the noise, whether it's, like, the other person, like,
10:39trash-talking you on the other side?
10:41Yeah.
10:41Or is it the fans, you know, whether you're visiting – you know, wherever you're visiting?
10:45Yeah.
10:45Like, how do you block out that noise?
10:47You know, it's crazy.
10:48People say you get in a little zone and you don't really notice.
10:51Like, you really do.
10:51Like, when the ball is snapped, like, I really don't hear anything.
10:54Like, you just play and you block.
10:56You focus on your technique.
10:57Muscle memory takes over.
10:58And then, when the play is over, you start hearing it again.
11:00It's kind of a crazy thing.
11:01And so, like, the trash-talking, that stuff happens.
11:03Like, I'm not one to really start it.
11:05But if it gets there, it gets there during the game.
11:06It's fun.
11:07You know, it's part of football.
11:08It's part of sports.
11:09But, like, other than that, man, you really don't – you don't hear none of that stuff.
11:11That's so crazy, man.
11:12Yeah.
11:13I could never – like, that's – I think that's what bothered me about playing sports half the time
11:16is just listening to the trash talk because I'm such a humble dude.
11:18Yeah.
11:19Like, I'm so chill.
11:20Yeah.
11:20And I don't look at it – like, I'm serious about the game, but I'm not as serious to, like –
11:23Yeah, it gets personal.
11:24Yeah, to the point where I'm going to, like, hit somebody.
11:31At USC, we're throwing a punch through a similar situation because of trash-talking and, you know,
11:35just kind of, like, the rivalry game kind of thing.
11:37And I have to kind of learn and understand that, like, I can't let myself get outside myself in the game
11:42because that's going to hurt your team.
11:43So, you've got to just be smart.
11:44And even though sometimes you do get pissed off, you've got to handle that in the confines of the game
11:48because the other stuff's going to get you tossed.
11:49Now, who is the biggest trash-talker on the Bucs?
11:53On the Bucs?
11:56Hmm.
11:57Man, Jameis.
11:58Really?
11:59Yeah.
11:59Yeah, Jameis is fiery, competitive.
12:02He stays talking trash.
12:03Back when Kwon was here, Mr. Homie, they used to go at it to practice.
12:07Really?
12:07Like, trash-talking.
12:08Like, defense make a play, Kwon's chirping, Jameis chirping back.
12:12Offense comes up to make his play, Jameis chirping.
12:14It just made the environment, like, fun and, like, competitive.
12:16And so, I would probably say Jameis the biggest trash-talker, man.
12:19He's a confident, confident leader, and it's dope to watch sometimes.
12:23And with the season approaching, too, I mean, there was obviously a coaching change.
12:27So, now we got Bruce Aarons here.
12:29What's it like in that locker room now with him being a part of it?
12:33Man, it's awesome, man.
12:34He's, you know, he's big on accountability and held everybody accountable for just doing
12:37your job and understanding what to do and your assignments.
12:40And, you know, he's bringing a winning culture in here.
12:42He's won everywhere he's been.
12:43And so, you know, he's, you know, worked us hard at practice all since OTAs, a lot of
12:48reps, you know, high volume.
12:49But it's been good work, man.
12:50We're excited for the season.
12:51Now, from a fashion standpoint, he always rocks some of the taxi cab joints.
12:55Is it Kangol?
12:56Kangol, yeah, yeah.
12:57All right, just making sure it was Kangol.
12:58If it was an off-brand, I was like, nah.
13:00Oh, nah, he got his own brand.
13:01Really?
13:02He got the custom Kangol with the – it's got his little sign on the back.
13:06It's, like, his emblem.
13:07On the back of it, it's, like, his face with the glasses and, like, the headset.
13:10It's dope, man.
13:11He's got sauce.
13:12Like, Coach has got sauce.
13:13That's what's up, man.
13:15New coach, got some sauce.
13:16Let's get it, man.
13:17Tampa Bay Bucks, Caleb Beninok, appreciate you for coming through, bro.
13:21Thanks for having me.
13:21Yo, good luck this season, too.
13:22Appreciate you, man.
13:23Hopefully, too, we can either get to the Super Bowl this year or, man, next year.
13:26Man, we'll be working for it.
13:27How crazy would it be for 2020?
13:29Super Bowl's here.
13:29Yeah, we got it in here.
13:30The city go crazy, man.
13:31I'm excited.
13:32We're going up.
13:33For sure, brother.
13:33So I'll 94.1.