Benjamin St-Juste

Benjamin St-Juste's Biography

Born on September 8, 1997, in Montreal, Canada, Benjamin St-Juste has grown up to be a prominent figure in the National Football League (NFL). As a professional football cornerback, he has done wonders for the Washington Commanders. Born to a Haitian father and a French-Canadian mother, he spent his childhood learning French and Haitian Creole. It was only later that St-Juste became proficient in English, honing this skill at the renowned Cégep du Vieux Montréal.

Interestingly, in his early years, St-Juste took an interest in ice hockey. The pivotal shift towards American football came from his father, Wilbert. Sadly, despite being a member of the prestigious 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team, Wilbert’s promising career was curtailed by a broken leg during a pre-season camp. Nonetheless, he instilled the spark and love for the sport in his son.

St-Juste’s natural talent for the game led him to attend various college football camps across the United States in the mid-2010s. On putting up exceptional performances, St-Juste was recognized by Jim Harbaugh, who offered him a scholarship to play for the Michigan Wolverines.

Starting his college football career in 2017, St-Juste played in 12 games as a freshman. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury left him redshirted as a sophomore the following year. He then transferred to the University of Minnesota as a graduate student in 2019, after having graduated from Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. During his tenure with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, St-Juste featured in 18 games and executed close to 60 tackles across two years. His abilities also won him a spot at the 2021 Senior Bowl, where he recorded a tackle.

St-Juste’s break into the professional football league came in 2021 when he was drafted in the third round of the NFL by the Washington Football Team, making him the 74th overall pick. Notably, St-Juste’s drafting was part of a trade deal involving Trent Williams moving to the San Francisco 49ers. Further, he was also chosen by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2021 CFL Draft.

On May 13, 2021, St-Juste signed his four-year rookie contract with Washington. His NFL debut was marked in the opening game against the Los Angeles Chargers where he laid down four tackles, but allowed six catches, leading to a 20 -16 loss. Unfortunately, in December 2021, he was placed on injured reserve due to lingering concussion issues.

In the 2022 season, St-Juste was moved from outside corner to the slot, an adjustment seen as a part of the team’s reorganization process, which included benching William Jackson III. St-Juste also successfully made critical stops during pivotal moments, including pushing wide receiver Darnell Mooney out of the end zone just before Mooney’s feet could touch the field.

St-Juste’s exceptional performance continued during the ninth week of the league when he defended a touchdown pass attempt from Kirk Cousins, allowing cornerback Danny Johnson to intercept. Further, in a victory over the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, he forced wide receiver Quez Watkins to fumble the ball, enabling safety Darrick Forrest to recover it.

Despite the accomplishments and contributions to his team, St-Juste’s performance was cut short when he was placed again on injured reserve on January 6, 2023. Nevertheless, his impressive career thus far and his evolving skills ensure his continued prominence in the NFL.