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| Wednesday, July 16 |
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| Heisman Hopeful: Cedric Benson By Jeff Goodman SchoolSports.com | ||||||
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Cedric Benson capped off one of the most remarkable careers in the history of Texas high school football on Dec. 16. He won three straight Class 5A state titles as a running back at Midland Lee High (Texas), moved into fourth place on the state's all-time rushing list and is headed to the University of Texas next season.
But he'd like to end it all with a Heisman trophy. Benson is one of three finalists for the High School Heisman award in the Southwest region, joining McKinney High (Texas) running back Donta Hickson and Bear Creek High (Colo.) quarterback Justin Holland. The winner -- along with the winners in five other regions -- will be announced at halftime of the first-ever National High School Football All-Star Game on Dec. 30 in Dallas. "It would be pretty high up there if I was to win," says Benson, who racked up 255 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns in the Rebels' 33-21 win over nationally ranked Austin Westlake High in the Class 5A, Division I state title game. "It would be very close to the top of all the things I've been able to accomplish." But nothing could surpass the experience of winning three consecutive state crowns, something that has never been done before at the Class 5A level in Texas. The list of individual accomplishments is endless for Benson: 33 straight games with more than 100 yards rushing, 36 consecutive games with a touchdown and a total of 8,423 career rushing yards, just 17 shy of third place, held by current Tennessee Titans running back Rodney Thomas. But Benson would much rather talk about team accomplishments or his teammates -- if he says anything at all. "He's a little on the quiet side," says Midland Lee head football coach John Parchman. "He's not an ?I-Me' type guy. He's a lead-by-example player and not a rah-rah guy." Benson's 15-game senior season, in which he gained 2,865 rushing yards, was so physically grueling that he decided to pass up an opportunity to play in the National High School Football All-Star Game, which will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. "I just can't," says Benson, who was at his best in pressure situations, scoring 15 touchdowns in the three state title contests. "I'm just too tired. It's been a long trip." The journey began with the weight placed squarely on Benson's shoulders to lead Midland Lee this season. He was the only offensive starter returning from last year's title squad, and the expectations were so high that Benson was the first high school player to ever be featured on the cover of the renowned Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine, which has been around since 1960. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Benson has been compared to all the legendary Texas high school ballcarriers, including Billy Sims, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. But the soft-spoken star isn't trying to follow in anybody's footsteps. He's just trying to continue on his current path, which seems headed directly for the NFL. "It's been a pretty good ride," says Benson. "Everything went great pretty much my whole time here. "It couldn't have worked out any better."
Material from SchoolSports.com.Visit their web site at www.schoolsports.com | |
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