Darren Benson

Last updated

Darren Benson
No. 91
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1974-08-25) August 25, 1974 (age 49)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:308 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school: Craigmont (TN)
College: Trinity Valley
Supplemental draft: 1995  / Round: 3
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:12
Player stats at PFR

Darren L. Benson (born August 25, 1974) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1995 supplemental draft. He played college football at Trinity Valley Community College.

Contents

Early life and education

Benson attended Craigmont High School, where he played as a defensive tackle. He accepted a football scholarship from Arkansas State University. He didn't play in his first year because of failing to meet the grades requirements of Proposition 48. [1]

In 1993, he transferred to Trinity Valley Community College. As a freshman, he contributed to the team having an 11-1 record, while collecting 82 tackles and 10 sacks.

As a sophomore, he played a key role in the undefeated (12-0) 1994 NJCA Championship team, posting 109 tackles (20 for loss) and 21 sacks.

Professional career

Benson was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third-round (1st overall) of the 1995 supplemental draft, surrendering by rule an equivalent pick in the 1996 NFL draft. [2] [3] The Cowboys thought Benson had the athletic potential to develop into a Leon Lett type player. As a 21-year-old rookie, he was deactivated during the first half of the 1995 season, until injuries on the defensive line gave him a chance to have a reserve role throughout the second half of the season. Including pairing with Lett on the field goal rush team. He finished with 4 defensive tackles.

In 1996, he was having problems adjusting to the professional game and decided to quit the team during mini-camp. [4] After he was convinced to return, he suffered torn anterior and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee during a practice and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 20. [5]

In 1997, he was deactivated in the first 3 games of the season. He was deactivated for the fifth game against the New York Giants. He moved into the defensive tackle rotation after Chad Hennings suffered a groin injury. He was declared inactive in five straight games after Hennings returned from his injury. He played in the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals and had 4 tackles. He recorded 7 tackles (one for loss) during the season.

In 1998, he suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth preseason game against the St. Louis Rams. [6] He was placed on the injured reserve list on August 24.

In 1999, he was released before the season started on September 6. He finished his career with 11 tackles (one for loss). [7]

Related Research Articles

Leon Lett Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. Lett played college football at Emporia State University and was selected in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Cowboys, where he spent 10 seasons. During his final season in 2001, he played for the Denver Broncos.

Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.

Brett Clayton Pierce is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Stanford University.

James McArthur Washington is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. With the Cowboys, Washington won back-to-back titles in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, both against the Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins.

Barron Winfred Wortham is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas-El Paso.

Willis Robert Crockett is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Willie Lee Broughton is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Raiders, and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Miami.

John Joseph Flannery is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard and center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and St. Louis Rams. He played college football for the Syracuse Orangemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lee</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

Tony Hutson was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Kilgore College (1992–93) and Northeastern Oklahoma State University.

Patrick A. Dennis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Godfrey Clarence Myles was an American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Florida.

Michael Fuimaono Ulufale is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Brigham Young University and was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft.

Alundis Marcell Brice is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Mississippi.

Leroy Cook is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Alabama and was a two-time All-American selection.

Mark Hartley Walen is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at UCLA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Erving</span> American football player (born 1992)

Cameron Drew Erving is an American football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Florida State and has played in the NFL for the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers.

Wendell Davis is former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He served as the head coach of the San Angelo Bandits and the Texas Revolution of the Champions Indoor Football (CIF). He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Norman Edward Wells is a former American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the twelfth round of the 1980 NFL draft. He played college football at Northwestern University.

Lee Vaughn is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Wyoming.

References

  1. ↑ "Cowboy Coaches Keep Eye on Benson | News OK". newsok.com. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Cowboys, Oilers begin work". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Cowboys' Benson explains no-show". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Benson Injures Knee | News OK". newsok.com. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Cowboys' Benson sidelined with knee injury". Archived from the original on December 2, 1998. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Cowboys cut Benson". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.