Football | 5/16/2014 11:18:00 AM

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University football student-athlete, Gustave Benthin, has been invited to the San Diego Chargers' rookie minicamp in the National Football League.
 
Benthin went undrafted last week, but was picked up as an undrafted rookie free agent. He was one of 10 rookies selected to tryout during the minicamp. The other nine included Randy Greenwood (DB, John Carroll), Vaness Harris (LB, San Diego St.), Andrew Maxwell (QB, Michigan St), Blake Oliaro (LB, San Diego), Brian Owusu (CB, Harvard), Devin Smith (OL, Purdue), Craig Watts (OL, West Texas A&M), Khalil Wilkes (C, Stanford), and Malcolm Willis (DB, Penn St).
 
Benthin, a 6-2, 305-pound, defensive tackle, bench pressed 225 pounds 36 times, had a 35-inch vertical, had a 10-yard 1.69 split, and a 20-yard shuttle of 4.47 at his Pro Day. Benthin, a three-time recipient of GNAC first team honors, finished his senior season with 30 tackles, with 7.5 coming with a loss. He had 5.5 sacks in 2013.
 
"This is great for John," WOU Head Coach Arne Ferguson said. "He has worked so hard for this opportunity. I think if he continues to work hard, with his work effort, he has a great chance to make their roster."
 
Chargers' blog website, "BoltBlitz" list Benthin as a "Diamond in the Rough". BoltBlitz.com reads …
 
"Benthin is exactly what the Chargers need on the DL.  He has played every position on the DL through his career at Western Oregon.  He is extremely explosive (36 reps of 225, 35? vert and 9'3? broad jump at 299lbs).  And my favorite, he plays like a bully.  Just look at some of his highlights from the 2012 season http://youtu.be/3LrJueHNuu0 and http://youtu.be/FH-fG-mKFm8 2013 season.  From the first play in the first video just watch how he bullies offensive linemen when he gets a hold of them.  I'd love to see him in short yardage situations as a blocking FB.  My Prediction: Same as Palepoi.  He is not an UDFA, he just has a try-out invite.  I think he gets a contract and will be on the practice squad, if not the active roster due to his versatility.  He will have to prove he can maintain that dominance against higher levels of competition since he is coming from the GNAC conference but I think he does."