Eno Benjamin
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Eno Benjamin
| image = Eno Benjamin.jpg
| caption = Benjamin with the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2019
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|04|13}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 207
| high_school = Wylie East (Wylie, Texas)
| college = Arizona State (2017–2019)
| draftyear = 2020
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 222
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2020|2022}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2022|2023}})
| status =
| highlights =
- 2× First-team All-Pac-12 (2018, 2019)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 431
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.9
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 31
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 235
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Return yards
| statvalue7 = 342
| pfr = BenjEn00
}}
Enotobong Benjamin (born April 13, 1999) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Early life
Benjamin attended Wylie East in Wylie, Texas.{{Cite web |last=Florek |first=Michael |date=November 7, 2016 |title=The motivation for D-FW's biggest high school celebrity, Eno Benjamin, is not rooted in fame, but the mistakes of his brother |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/high-school/high-schools/2016/11/07/wylie-easts-eno-benjamin-learned-en-route-becoming-area-popular-player |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=SportsDay}} During his high school career, he rushed for 7,546 yards and 111 touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Metcalfe |first=Jeff |date=August 9, 2017 |title=ASU running back Eno Benjamin looking too good to not play as freshman |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ncaaf/asu/2017/08/09/asu-running-back-eno-benjamin-looking-too-good-not-play-freshman/553779001/ |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jacquez |first=Joe |date=August 9, 2017 |title=ASU Football expects Eno Benjamin to contribute right away |url=http://www.statepress.com/article/2017/08/spsports-asu-football-eno-benjamin-running-backs |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=The State Press}} Benjamin originally committed to the University of Iowa to play college football but changed to Arizona State University.{{Cite web |title=Wylie East running back Eno Benjamin opens up about decommitment from Iowa in detailed letter |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/high-school/high-schools/2016/11/24/wylie-east-running-back-eno-benjamin-opens-decommittment-iowa-detailed-letter |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=SportsDay|date=November 24, 2016 }}{{Cite web |last=Metcalfe |first=Jeff |date=January 7, 2017 |title=Four-star running back Eno Benjamin commits to ASU |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ncaaf/asu/2017/01/07/eno-benjamin-commits-asu/96286306/ |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}
College career
As a true freshman at Arizona State in 2017, Benjamin would play in 10 games, totaling 23 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin also contributed to special teams as a punt returner in 2017, totaling 119 return yards.{{Cite web |last=Kragthorpe |first=Kurt |date=October 29, 2018 |title=No. 16 Utes will meet a tough Arizona State running back they really sought in recruiting |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2018/10/29/no-utes-will-meet-tough/ |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune}}{{Cite web |title=Eno Benjamin - Football |url=https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/roster/eno-benjamin/8494 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=Arizona State University Athletics |language=en}}
During his sophomore season in 2018, he broke the school record for rushing yards in a game with 312.{{Cite web |last=Metcalfe |first=Jeff |date=September 30, 2018 |title=Eno Benjamin blows away 45-year record with ASU's first 300-yard rushing game in win |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2018/09/30/asu-football-eno-benjamin-has-asus-1st-300-yard-rushing-game-win/1475721002/ |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Baum |first=Bob |date=September 30, 2018 |title=Eno Benjamin runs for 312 yards as Arizona State crushes Oregon State - Sports - The Register-Guard - Eugene, OR |url=https://www.registerguard.com/sports/20180930/eno-benjamin-runs-for-312-yards-as-arizona-state-crushes-oregon-state |access-date=November 12, 2018 |website=Register Guard |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=November 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112142923/https://www.registerguard.com/sports/20180930/eno-benjamin-runs-for-312-yards-as-arizona-state-crushes-oregon-state |url-status=dead }} Following his junior year where he rushed for 1,083 yards and 10 touchdowns, Benjamin decided to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Rudner |first=Jacob |date=December 11, 2019 |title=ASU star running back Eno Benjamin declares for 2020 NFL draft |url=https://247sports.com/college/arizona-state/Article/ASU-football-Eno-Benjamin-Herm-Edwards-Rob-Likens-NFL-draft-2020-139951713/ |access-date=December 17, 2019 |website=247sports.com}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| Class ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving ! colspan="4"| Scrimmage | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|Att|Rush Attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing Yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Rushing Yards Per Reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing Touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Receiving Yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Receiving Yards Per Reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Receiving Touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Plays|Plays From Scrimmage}} | {{abbr|Yds|Yards From Scrimmage}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards from Scrimmage Per Play}} | {{abbr|TD|Touchdowns From Scrimmage}} | |
| 2017 | Arizona State | FR
| 23 || 142 || 6.2 || 1 || 5 || 15 || 3.0 || 0 || 28 || 157 || 5.6 || 1 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Arizona State | SO
| 300 || 1642 || 5.5 || 16 || 35 || 263 || 7.5 || 2 || 335 || 1905 || 5.7 || 18 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Arizona State | JR
| 253 || 1083 || 4.3 || 10 || 42 || 347 || 8.3 || 2 || 295 || 1430 || 4.8 || 12 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3"| Career{{Cite web |title=Eno Benjamin College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/eno-benjamin-1.html |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |language=en}} | 576 | 2867 | 5.0 | 27 | 82 | 625 | 7.6 | 4 | 658 | 3492 | 5.3 | 31 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8 7/8
| weight = 207
| dash = 4.57
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.69
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 6.97
| vertical = 39.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 12
| arm span = 31 1/4
| hand span = 8 5/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Eno Benjamin Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eno-benjamin/32004245-4e13-1505-4267-e7260b30dd7d |access-date=July 8, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout Eno Benjamin College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021714&DraftYear=2020 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
Benjamin was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with 222nd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Odegard |first=Kyle |date=April 25, 2020 |title=Cardinals Nab Arizona State Running Back Eno Benjamin In Seventh Round |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-nab-arizona-state-running-back-eno-benjamin-in-seventh-round |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=AZCardinals.com}} He was inactive for every game as a rookie.
Benjamin entered the 2021 season third on the Cardinals depth chart behind Chase Edmonds and James Conner. Filling in for Edmonds in Week 9, Benjamin scored his first NFL rushing touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. He finished the season with 118 yards and a touchdown through nine games.
On October 2, 2022, during the team's Week 4 game against the Carolina Panthers, Benjamin assumed kickoff duties for the Cardinals in the second half as Matt Prater dealt with hip soreness.{{Cite web|title=Eno Benjamin Gets Kick Out of Emergency Duty Against Panthers|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/eno-benjamin-gets-kick-out-of-emergency-duty-against-panthers#:~:text=Running%20back%20Eno%20Benjamin%20kicks,kicker%20Matt%20Prater%20was%20hurting.|access-date=June 23, 2023|website=azcardinals.com|language=en}} On November 14, 2022, he was released by the Cardinals after 11 weeks of the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=November 14, 2022 |title=Cardinals release Eno Benjamin |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/11/14/cardinals-release-eno-benjamin/ |access-date=November 14, 2022 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}
=Houston Texans=
On November 15, 2022, the Houston Texans claimed Benjamin off waivers.{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (11-15-2022) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-11-15-2022 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=HoustonTexans.com}} He was released on December 13, 2022.{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Eno Benjamin: Let go by Houston |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/eno-benjamin-let-go-by-houston/amp/ |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On December 14, 2022, the New Orleans Saints claimed Benjamin off waivers.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Saints claim Eno Benjamin on waivers |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/14/saints-claim-eno-benjamin-on-waivers/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}
On August 5, 2023, it was announced that Benjamin had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in practice and would miss the entirety of the 2023 season.{{cite web | last=Sullivan | first=Tyler | title=Alvin Kamara suspension: Saints backfield takes another hit as Eno Benjamin suffers torn Achilles | website=CBSSports.com | date=2023-08-05 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/alvin-kamara-suspension-saints-backfield-takes-another-hit-as-eno-benjamin-suffers-torn-achilles/amp/ | access-date=2025-03-22}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6689 Arizona State Sun Devils bio]
- {{IMDb name|9568987}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 2020 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Eno}}
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:African-American Christians
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:People from Wylie, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Collin County, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Dallas County, Texas