Ben Banogu
{{Short description|Nigerian-born American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ben Banogu
| image = 2018-0716-Big12MD-BenBanogu.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Banogu in 2018
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|1|19}}
| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 252
| high_school = Prosper
(Prosper, Texas)
| college = UL Monroe (2014–2015)
TCU (2016–2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 49
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2017, 2018)
- Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (2017)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 29
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 2.5
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 1
| pfr = BanoBe00
}}
Benjamin Chinomso Banogu (born January 19, 1996) is a Nigerian professional American football defensive end. He played college football at Louisiana-Monroe and TCU.
Early life
Born in Nigeria, Banogu's family moved to U.S. six months after his birth.{{Cite web |last=Townsend |first=Brad |date=August 14, 2018 |title=Ben Banogu has undergone a meteoric rise at TCU, 'but the script's not done yet' |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2018/08/14/ben-banogu-has-undergone-a-meteoric-rise-at-tcu-but-the-script-s-not-done-yet/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=The Dallas Morning News}} He grew up in McKinney, Texas attended nearby Prosper High School, where he played football and basketball for the Eagles, in addition to participating in track & field. On February 4, 2014, Banogu signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe on a football scholarship.{{cite web|work=247Sports.com|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Ben-Banogu-37154/high-school-61142/|title=Ben Banogu|access-date=January 26, 2019}}
College career
=Louisiana-Monroe=
Banogu redshirted during his first season at ULM, but became a starter for the Warhawks as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He recorded 5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss to earn a spot on the All-Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team, but chose to leave the program after the season.{{Cite web |last=Hansucker |first=Adam |date=January 16, 2016 |title=ULM DE Banogu transfers to TCU |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/ulm/2016/01/14/ulm-de-banogu-transfers-tcu/78825158/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Monroe News-Star}}
=TCU=
After transferring to Texas Christian University in January 2016, Banogu sat out the 2016 season and forfeited his sophomore year of eligibility due to NCAA transfer rules. He became a starter for the Horned Frogs as a junior in 2017, totalling 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, earning First-team All-Big 12 honors{{cite web|title= 2017 All-Big 12 Football Honors Announced|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211687744|website=Big12sports.com|date=November 30, 2017}} and helping lead the Frogs to the program's first-ever berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and a win in the 2017 Alamo Bowl over Stanford.{{cite web|title=TCU Comes Back to Win Valero Alamo Bowl|url=https://gofrogs.com/news/2017/12/29/TCU_Comes_Back_to_Win_Valero_Alamo_Bowl.aspx|website=GoFrogs.com|date=December 29, 2017}}
Banogu scored his first collegiate touchdown during his senior season on a 47-yard return of a fumble recovery in a home win against Iowa State in September 2018.{{cite web|title=Late Field Goal Gives TCU 17-14 Win Over Iowa State|url=https://gofrogs.com/news/2018/9/29/football-late-field-goal-gives-tcu-17-14-win-over-iowa-state.aspx|website=GoFrogs.com|date=September 29, 2018}} He ended the season with 8.5 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss to once again be named First-team All-Big 12,{{cite web|title= 2018 All-Big 12 Football Honors Announced|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211782067|date=November 28, 2018}} and helped lead the Frogs to a win over California in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.{{cite web|title=Frogs Overtime Winners in Cheez-It Bowl|url=https://gofrogs.com/news/2018/12/27/football-frogs-victorious-in-cheez-it-bowl.aspx|website=GoFrogs.com|date=December 27, 2018}}
Following his senior season, Banogu graduated from TCU and was invited to participate in the 2019 Senior Bowl as a linebacker.{{cite web|title=Banogu and Collier Headed to Reese's Senior Bowl|url=https://gofrogs.com/news/2019/1/9/football-banogu-and-collier-headed-to-reeses-senior-bowl.aspx|website=GoFrogs.com|date=January 9, 2019}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/2
| weight = 250
| dash = 4.62
| ten split = 1.62
| twenty split = 2.68
| shuttle = 4.27
| cone drill = 7.02
| vertical = 40.0
| broad ft = 11
| broad in = 2
| bench = 23
| arm span = 33 5/8
| hand span = 9
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ben-banogu?id=32194241-4e73-7249-aebe-eec538edf79b |title=Benjamin Banogu Combine Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 29, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1007700&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 Draft Scout Ben Banogu, Texas Christian NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 8, 2022}}
}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Banogu was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (49th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Colts Select Linebacker Ben Banogu With 49th-Overall Pick|url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-select-linebacker-ben-banogu-with-49th-overall-pick|author=Walker, Andrew|website=Colts.com|date=April 26, 2019}} During the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, Banogu recorded a half-sack in his first-career game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colts.com/news/five-things-learned-colts-chargers-2019-week-1?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=Five Things Learned: Colts-Chargers (2019, Week 1)|last=Walker|first=Andrew|date=September 9, 2019|website=Colts.com|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=}} During the Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos, Banogu sealed the 15-13 victory with his 4th-quarter strip-sack of Joe Flacco, both career-firsts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2019/10/28/colts-ben-banogu-bursts-onto-scene-breakout-game-vs-broncos/2484201001/|title=Insider: Colts' Ben Banogu bursts onto to scene with breakout game vs. Broncos|last=Ayello|first=Jim|date=October 28, 2019|website=Indianapolis Star|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105092725/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2019/10/28/colts-ben-banogu-bursts-onto-scene-breakout-game-vs-broncos/2484201001/ |archive-date=November 5, 2019 }} In Week 12 against the Houston Texans, he brought down Deshaun Watson for a sack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colts.com/news/by-the-numbers-houston-texans-2019-week-12?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=By The Numbers: Indianapolis Colts fall to the Houston Texans, 20-17|last=Colts Communications|date=November 22, 2019|website=Colts.com|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811202416/https://www.colts.com/news/by-the-numbers-houston-texans-2019-week-12?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook |archive-date=August 11, 2020 }}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On June 7, 2023, Banogu signed with the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-sign-former-2nd-round-pick-banogu|title=Cowboys Sign Former 2nd-Round Pick Ben Banogu|last=Walker, Patrik|date=June 7, 2023|website=DallasCowboys.com|language=en-US}} He was released on August 29, 2023.{{cite news|title=Cowboys announce 36 roster moves ahead of regular season|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-announce-36-roster-moves-ahead-of-regular-season|date=August 29, 2023|website=DallasCowboys.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ulmwarhawks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2827 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks bio]
- [https://gofrogs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=844 TCU Horned Frogs bio]
{{Indianapolis Colts 2019 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banogu, Ben}}
Category:Players of American football from Lagos
Category:Players of American football from McKinney, Texas
Category:People from Prosper, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Denton County, Texas
Category:Nigerian players of American football
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football players
Category:TCU Horned Frogs football players