Cairo High School Syrupmakers senior quarterback Steven Bench, son of Steve and Glennie Bench of Bainbridge and a former Bainbridge High School Bearcats quarterback, verbally committed to the Penn State University Nittany Lions on Tuesday.

Bench was a member of the Bainbridge High School team for three seasons, before transferring to Cairo before his senior season.

The commitment to Penn State came following a visit there last weekend.

The first day he and other high school senior players can sign national football letters of intent with their chosen colleges is next Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Bench, who had previously verbally committed to the Rice University Owls, said the decision to change his commitment from Rice to Penn State was a difficult one.

“Rice is a great place,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for everyone there, the people, the athletes, the teachers, especially the coaches,” he said. “They are a class act.

“Penn State is a top level academic school and they play top level football. It doesn’t get ant better than that.”