Benson is a Mississippi native who played high school ball at St. Joseph Catholic, where he earned a state championship, a four-star recruitment rating, and a scholarship. He started his college career at Oregon in 2020, but missed the season due to an ACL injury.

Following his rehab, Benson failed to see the field in any real capacity in 2021, so he packed his bags and took his talents to Florida State. Immediate success followed on and off the field in the form of 2 consecutive 900+ rushing yard seasons, record breaking performances, leadership accolades and academic honors.

Injury History: 2020 Tore ACL/MCL/LCL in December (Missed most of next season)

GENERAL NOTES:
• 2023 Second-team All-ACC
• 2023 Bobby Bowden Leadership Award
• 2023 15 total touchdowns second in ACC, 19th in country , 7th on FSU’s single-season list
• 2022 Second-team All-ACC
• 2022 ACC Honor Roll
• 2022 FSU Offensive Newcomer of the Year
• 2022 four-time ACC Running Back of the Week
• 2022 ranked first in ACC and 13th nationally with average of 6.46 yards per rush
• 2022 Broke PFF College single-season record by forcing 0.51 missed tackles per rush
• Rushed for career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and added 15 yards on three receptions in 39-17 win vs. Virginia Tech…average of 18.2 yards per carry broke FSU’s single-game record previously set by Warrick Dunn in 1995
• HS -State champion
• HS – Dual-sport athlete: basketball

The NFL combine and FSU pro day has provided us with base metrics on Benson’s overall physical profile.

He played at Florida St and Oregon, recognized by #3 and #1 respectively, stands slightly taller than a prototypical RB at just over 6-foot tall and carries a solid 216 pounds, aligning with the prototypical build for his position. His wingspan and arm length are within the expected range, and his hand size is quite standard. He impresses with a 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds, showcasing his remarkable speed. His vertical jump and broad jump are also commendable, emphasizing his explosive capability. His upper-body strength is evident with 23 bench press reps, exceeding the average by a notable margin, but his agility drill results are not available.

• Overall: Tall with a prototypical frame, excellent speed and explosive capabilities
• Bench Press: 23 reps
• Better lift compared to the average RB prospect (19.33 reps)

Games watched: LSU (2023) Clemson (2023) Virginia Tech (2023) Miami (2023) Syracuse (2023) Boston College (2022)

Best game: Virginia Tech (2023)

Worst game: Clemson (2023)

As a 21-year-old draft prospect, Benson brings a compelling mix of youth and talent to the table. His agility and strength allow him to evade defenders and power through tackles, backed by a history of excellent ball security with zero fumbles throughout his college career.

His patience, vision, and power translate into effective jump cuts and reliable hands for catching. Benson’s contact balance is excellent, contributing to an impressive 24 touchdowns with no fumbles. He averages 3.97 yards after contact and 6.1 yards per attempt, indicating efficient running.

Despite a relatively low number of carries, he nearly reached 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons and has a high reception completion rate of 82.1%. Benson’s experience is primarily in power run gap schemes, showcasing his adaptability and potential for growth at the professional level.

POSITIVES:
• 21 years old on draft night, young
• Will make you miss and run through your face
• Powerful legs
• Pass protection
• Ball security
• Never fumbled in collegiate career
• Patience
• Vision
• Power
• Jump cuts
• Reliable hands
• Sturdy contact balance
• 24/0 Rushing TD/Fumble ratio career
• 3.97 yards after contact career average
• 6.1 yards per attempt career average
• 316 career attempts, light mileage
• Approached 1,000 yard rushing seasons twice 2022, 2023
• 82.1% career completed reception rate
• Most experienced in power run gap scheme runs

Benson’s negatives include a significant ACL injury in 2020 and a lack of elite fluidity in changing direction. His anticipation skills need improvement as he tends to be stiff in the midsection. He hasn’t been a major receiving option and has a notable number of drops on limited targets. Benson’s special teams production at the professional level is not expected to be substantial. He is least experience with zone scheme runs which is something the Cowboys like to do a lot. These areas present opportunities for development to enhance his overall performance.

NEGATIVES:
• 2020 season ending ACL injury
• Change of direction lacks elite fluidity
• Anticipation skills
• Can be a bit stiff in midsection
• Not heavily utilized as a receiving option
• 4 career drops on 39 career targets
• Wouldn’t count on major ST production in the pros
• Least experienced in zone scheme runs

The sky is the limit at this point for any RB that enters training camp on the Cowboys’ roster. Last year’s leading rusher, Tony Pollard, departed for Tennessee during free agency.

Second on the depth chart last year was Rico Dowdle, who was also a free agent but the Cowboys brought him back on a very affordable deal. He should almost certainly be in the mix for a time share.

It appears the team is opting for a more budget-friendly approach to the running back position in 2024, which is also the final year the team will be eating dead money from Ezekiel Elliot’s mega-contract.

The only other running backs on the team’s roster are Deuce Vaughn (2023 sixth-round pick), Hunter Luepke (2023 UDFA), Malik Davis (2023 practice squad) and Snoop Conner (154th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars).

Warm bodies currently fill the RB room in Dallas. Perhaps, the Cowboys see untapped potential from many of them. Then again, they would not be bringing in so many RBs that are projected in Day 2 on this year’s draft if they were not strongly considering upgrading at the position with a rookie deal price tag.

Size: 92
Speed/Agility: 82
Power: 92
Vision: 90
Rushing: 91
Receiving: 86
Pass Blocking: 90

Overall Grade: 90.42 (2nd Round grade)
Overall Projection: 3rd Round Projection