Kurt Benkert

Last updated

Kurt Benkert
Kurt Benkert (39362384471) (cropped).jpg
Benkert with Virginia at the 2017 Military Bowl
No. 6, 14, 13
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1995-07-17) July 17, 1995 (age 29)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Island Coast
(Cape Coral, Florida)
College: East Carolina (2013–2015)
Virginia (2016–2017)
Undrafted: 2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career XFL statistics
TD-INT:1–2
Passing yards:181
Completion percentage:62.2
Passer rating:60.8
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Kurt Benkert
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2021–present
Genres
Subscribers290,000 [1]
Total views75 Million [1]
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg100,000 subscribers2023
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2019–present
Followers45,300

Last updated:29 October 2024 [2]

Kurt Benkert (born July 17, 1995) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at East Carolina and Virginia. He originally signed with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL draft; he was also a member of the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. After originally being assigned to the Houston Roughnecks, he announced he would not play for the league, but was traded to the San Antonio Brahmas midway through the season.

Contents

Early years

Benkert attended Cape Coral High School in Cape Coral, Florida, and transferred to Island Coast High School in Cape Coral prior to his senior year. As a senior, he passed for 2,261 yards with 20 touchdowns. He committed to East Carolina University to play college football.

College career

After redshirting his first year at East Carolina in 2013, Benkert appeared in three games in 2014, completing eight of 10 passes for 58 yards and an interception. He was named East Carolina's starting quarterback heading into 2015, however he suffered a torn ACL before the season. [3] In May 2016, he transferred to the University of Virginia. [4] [5]

In his first year at Virginia, Benkert was named the starting quarterback. [6] [7] He completed 228 of 406 passes for 2,552 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. [8] In the third game of his senior season in 2017, Benkert broke the school record for passing yards in a game with 455. [9] [10]

College statistics

SeasonGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCompAttPctYardsAvgTDIntRateAttYardsAvgTD
East Carolina Pirates
2013 Redshirt Redshirt.svg
2014 300–081080.0585.801108.75234.62
2015 DNP (injury—knee)
Virginia Cavaliers
2016 11102–822840656.22,5526.32111120.660-94-1.60
2017 13136–729850958.53,2076.3259124.165-63-1.00
Career 27238−1553492557.75,8176.34621122.4130-134-1.02

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+58 in
(1.90 m)
218 lb
(99 kg)
31 in
(0.79 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.95 s4.33 s7.15 s31.0 in
(0.79 m)
9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)
16 reps
All values from NFL Combine [11]

Atlanta Falcons

Benkert signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018. [12] He was waived on September 1, 2018, and was signed to the practice squad the next day. [13] [14] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Falcons on December 31, 2018. [15]

On August 6, 2019, Benkert was placed on injured reserve after suffering a toe injury in the preseason. [16]

On September 5, 2020, Benkert was waived by the Falcons and was signed to the practice squad the next day. [17] [18] He was elevated to the active roster on November 21 for the team's week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints, and reverted to the practice squad after the game. [19] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021, [20] but was waived on February 18, 2021. [21]

Green Bay Packers

On May 17, 2021, Benkert signed with the Green Bay Packers. [22] On August 31, 2021, Packers released Benkert as part of their final roster cuts. [23] He was signed to the practice squad the next day. [24] Benkert was elevated to the active roster on December 7, 2021, to replace Jordan Love, who had been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list the day before. [25] He saw the field for the first time in his professional career on December 12, kneeling the ball twice in the closing seconds of a 45–30 win over the Chicago Bears.

On January 25, 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers. [26] On June 17, Benkert was released by the Packers. [27]

San Francisco 49ers

On September 20, 2022, Benkert signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. [28] He was released on October 12. [29] He re-signed to the team's practice squad on October 18, 2022. [30] On November 15, 2022, Benkert was released from the team again. [31]

San Antonio Brahmas

On December 12, 2022, Benkert was assigned to the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. [32] In a public statement, Benkert stated that, after initially seeking to join the league, he had chosen not to sign a contract, stating that it "no longer feels like the right (opportunity) to pursue" and that the decision was "the fault of no one" with Benkert stating he would instead spend spring 2023 out of football with his family. The Roughnecks retained his rights in the league. [33]

On March 23, 2023, the Roughnecks traded Benkert's player rights to the San Antonio Brahmas following an injury to Reid Sinnett. [34]

Benkert's debut in the XFL came in relief of starter Jawon Pass. Benkert completed one of his six attempts for two yards and an interception in the team's 15–9 win over the Arlington Renegades. [35] He earned his first start for the team's following game against the Vegas Vipers. He started the game off by throwing a one-yard touchdown pass to Fred Brown. [36] Late in the first half Benkert was hit following a throw and suffered three broken ribs, [37] but did not leave the game. He was eventually taken out late in the fourth in favor of Pass. Benkert was placed on the Reserve List on April 4, 2023. [38]

Benkert announced his retirement on August 26, 2023. [39]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2018 ATL Did not play
2019 ATL
2020 ATL
2021 GB 10000.000.0000.02-1-0.50
2022 SF Did not play
Total 10000000002-1-0.50

XFL career statistics

YearLeagueTeamGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2023 XFL SA 210–1233762.21814.91260.84123.00

Esports career

Benkert signed with Spacestation Gaming. He is an alternate for the Spacestation Gaming Halo team. [40]

Personal life

Benkert married Samantha Morreal on July 2, 2016. [41] The two have a daughter together.

YouTube career

On April 1, 2017, Benkert started his YouTube channel. [42] On April 8, 2021, he uploaded his first video Titled "Kurt Benkert 2017 College Highlights." As of December 11, 2024, he has over 300,000 subscribers and over 79,000,000 views. [42] Benkert's content mostly focuses on playing or teaching the popular video game series Madden NFL.

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References

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  9. RAMSPACHER, ANDREW (September 16, 2017). "Record day from Benkert fuels Virginia's rout of UConn".
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