Eno Benjamin
refer to caption
Benjamin with Arizona State in 2019
No. 26 – New Orleans Saints
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-13) April 13, 1999 (age 24)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:Wylie East (Wylie, Texas)
College:Arizona State (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / Round: 7 / Pick: 222
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing yards:431
Rushing average:3.9
Rushing touchdowns:3
Receptions:31
Receiving yards:235
Return yards:342
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Enotobong Benjamin (born April 13, 1999) is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona State and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Early years

Benjamin attended Wylie East in Wylie, Texas.[1] During his high school career, he rushed for 7,546 yards and 111 touchdowns.[2][3] Benjamin originally committed to the University of Iowa to play college football but changed to Arizona State University.[4][5]

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.[6][7]

During his sophomore season in 2018, he broke the school record for rushing yards in a game with 312.[8][9] 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.[10]

Statistics

Arizona State Sun Devils
Season Team Class Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD
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
Career[11] 576 2867 5.0 27 82 625 7.6 4 658 3492 5.3 31

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 8+7⁄8 in
(1.75 m) 		207 lb
(94 kg) 		31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m) 		8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		 4.57 s 1.53 s 2.69 s 4.25 s 6.97 s 39.0 in
(0.99 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		 12 reps
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

Arizona Cardinals

Benjamin was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with 222nd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[14] 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.[15] On November 14, 2022, he was released by the Cardinals after 11 weeks of the 2022 season.[16]

Houston Texans

On November 15, 2022, the Houston Texans claimed Benjamin off waivers.[17] He was released on December 13, 2022.[18]

New Orleans Saints

On December 14, 2022, the New Orleans Saints claimed Benjamin off waivers.[19]

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.[20]

References

  1. ^ Florek, Michael (November 7, 2016). "The motivation for D-FW's biggest high school celebrity, Eno Benjamin, is not rooted in fame, but the mistakes of his brother". SportsDay. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (August 9, 2017). "ASU running back Eno Benjamin looking too good to not play as freshman". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Jacquez, Joe (August 9, 2017). "ASU Football expects Eno Benjamin to contribute right away". The State Press. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  4. ^ "Wylie East running back Eno Benjamin opens up about decommitment from Iowa in detailed letter". SportsDay. November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  5. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (January 7, 2017). "Four-star running back Eno Benjamin commits to ASU". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (October 29, 2018). "No. 16 Utes will meet a tough Arizona State running back they really sought in recruiting". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Eno Benjamin - Football". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (September 30, 2018). "Eno Benjamin blows away 45-year record with ASU's first 300-yard rushing game in win". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Baum, Bob (September 30, 2018). "Eno Benjamin runs for 312 yards as Arizona State crushes Oregon State - Sports - The Register-Guard - Eugene, OR". Register Guard. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Rudner, Jacob (December 11, 2019). "ASU star running back Eno Benjamin declares for 2020 NFL draft". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  11. ^ "Eno Benjamin College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "Eno Benjamin Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Eno Benjamin College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Odegard, Kyle (April 25, 2020). "Cardinals Nab Arizona State Running Back Eno Benjamin In Seventh Round". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "Eno Benjamin Gets Kick Out of Emergency Duty Against Panthers". azcardinals.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Alper, Josh (November 14, 2022). "Cardinals release Eno Benjamin". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (11-15-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "Eno Benjamin: Let go by Houston". CBSSports.com. December 13, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  19. ^ Smith, Michael David (December 14, 2022). "Saints claim Eno Benjamin on waivers". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "Alvin Kamara suspension: Saints backfield takes another hit as Eno Benjamin suffers torn Achilles". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.

External links

Arizona Cardinals 2020 NFL draft selections
New Orleans Saints roster
Categories