Rushing where few have rushed before
By: John Bianco, Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations

Perhaps we've been spoiled by the fact that two of the greatest running backs in college football history have shined on the same field and many others have laid the foundation of a proud Texas rushing tradition. Maybe it's the High School records that he swiftly erased with each powerful stride during a prep career that is arguably the best the football-proud Lone Star State has ever seen and initially gained him notoriety as a ninth grader. Possibly it's his unflappable nature, low-key persona and the ease in which he dodges, drags, out-runs or overpowers opponents no matter how well they scheme, swarm and monitor his every move.

Or maybe we're more worried than Longhorn senior running back Cedric Benson, who turned heads immediately as the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2001, about his gaining acclaim.

"He's not a self promoter," Fox Sports Net's Drew Goodman said after a recent touchdown run. "He scores, tosses the ball to the official and goes back to work."

"Cedric's a real cool guy," said Longhorn All-American linebacker Derrick Johnson. "He's focused, works really hard and does some amazing things on the field. But, he takes everything in stride and makes it look so easy that maybe people take him for granted. I know the team doesn't. We respect him a lot and I think that's probably the most important thing to him."

Whatever the reason or Benson's level of concern, it wasn't until recently that the headshaking numbers grew so startling that even if he wasn't in their face, the nation was forced to take notice.

Benson, the pride of Midland-Lee High School where football is a religion, enters his final home game at Texas against arch-rival Texas A&M firmly entrenched in Longhorn lore and the NCAA record books.

"He's been setting records and making history from the moment he walked on campus and certainly will be remembered as one of the great players at a place with a whole lot of history," said Texas Head Coach Mack Brown. "When you look at the top players around the country this year, who else has been as consistent over the last four years? He passes Heisman Trophy winners every week with what he does. And if you want to talk about this season, we've leaned on him heavily and he's done great.

"I think he's a guy that should win the Doak Walker Award and he's a guy who should be in New York and get full consideration for the Heisman."

If history is any indication, he will. Benson has passed nearly every Heisman Trophy winning running back in his ascent up the NCAA all-time rushing list. There was the dramatic climb past UT's 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell, a rare moment when Benson's emotions shined through.

"That was a special moment for me," Benson said. "Any time you have a chance to break a record of a guy whose considered one of the best ever to play your position, you're going to get a little excited, and I did."

As the weeks passed, he quietly leaped many other legends of the game. One week it was Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk and Thurman Thomas. Heisman Trophy winners Marcus Allen and Mike Rozier were next. Last week, it was two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Heisman victor Herschel Walker and Heisman finalist LaDanian Tomlinson. All totaled, he has passed nine Heisman Trophy winners on the NCAA all-time rushing list since the season began.

"It's nice when I hear about another great player I've passed on one of the lists, but I realize I've got work to do and I can't worry about all of that," Benson said. "Records, awards and recognition, that's not something you can worry about during the season. It's really hard work out there and I need to concentrate on that. I let everyone else talk about all that other stuff."

Benson enters his final home game ranked sixth on the NCAA all-time rushing list (5,305 yards) and with two games remaining needs to average 147 yards per game to scale past Hesiman Trophy winner Charles White (5,598/USC, 1976-79) into fourth place. The top four, Ron Dayne (6,397/Wisconsin, 1996-99), Ricky Williams (6,279/Texas, 1995-98), Tony Dorsett (6,082/Pittsburgh, 1973-76) and White all were runaway Heisman Trophy winners.

"That's serious company now," said FSN analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Dave Lapham. "A two-time Heisman Trophy winner in Archie Griffin, Herschel wins the Heisman and they're both quality guys as well as terrific football players and Cedric Benson falls right in that group. He is big time, legit."

The trudge up the mountain was challenging and it wasn't until recently that Benson could see the peak in generating serious consideration as a candidate for college football's most prestigious honor. Although he ranks third in the nation in rushing (159.9 ypg) and stands second in the country in scoring (11.4 ppg), not until recently did most take notice of the numerous obstacles in his path to leading the Horns to a 9-1 record, No. 6 ranking and on the cusp of a BCS berth.

"The reason I think that Texas is continuing to win games is their ability to run the football into eight and nine-man fronts with Cedric Benson," ESPN analyst and Heisman Trophy voter Kirk Herbstreit said. "Every week, Benson is dealing with defenses that are crowding the line and he is running with tremendous toughness. His durability, power and yards after contact are allowing the Texas offense to have a great deal of success."

Benson has run for at least 140 yards in nine of 10 games and generated at least 125 yards from scrimmage in all 10 this season. He has a chance to become the first player in UT history to register at least 125 yards from scrimmage in every game of a season.

"I think maybe I'm penalized by my consistency, but I can't worry about that," Benson said. "If the offense's job is to go out there and help me get 140 or 150 every week no matter what they throw at us, that's what I'm going to do. If some people take that for granted so be it. I know I have my teammates' and coaches' respect and I feel like my opponents respect what I'm doing. That's all I can ask for."

Benson's 1,599 yards and 18 TDs rank fourth on the UT all-time single-season rushing lists. He has posted three of the top eight rushing seasons and two of the top four rushing TD campaigns on UT record.

"I definitely think that because he isn't flashy and he just comes and works every play, that he isn't recognized as much as others," UT junior TE David Thomas said. "It's just like another day at the office for him. Some people might not appreciate him, but we know how hard he works. A lot of times, we won't run a perfect play, but his effort and intensity makes stuff work when it probably shouldn't."

A perfect example of that is the fact that Benson has gained more than 58 percent of his yards after contact this year (934 of 1,599) and more than 56 percent for his career (2,980 of 5,305). He has been tackled for a loss just 18 times for -25 yards on 270 carries this season and only 77 times out of 1,056 carries for his career.

"The thing that makes Cedric so difficult to defend is that you can have the perfect defense called and execute it right and he'll still get four yards," Johnson added. "That's demoralizing for a defense."

It's not only his running that has helped the Horns rank second nationally in rushing (305.2 ypg), eighth in total offense (472.4 ypg) and 10th in scoring (35.9 ppg). Texas is on pace to post its best rushing season since 1977.

"Our team's winning and it's because he's not only doing a great job running the ball, but he's become a great leader, is blocking well and catching the ball out of the backfield," Brown said. "He's as complete a football player as you could ask for at the running back position."

Benson's dominating year and development have caught the eye of his predecessor, Ricky Williams, who did the same while facing defenses crowding the line during his quest for the 1998 Heisman Trophy.

"I spoke with Coach Brown earlier this season and we talked about the 'good ole' days', and how things were when I was there," Williams said. "He said he remembered how we won by putting the game on my shoulders. They decided to try it again. They are in essence using Cedric the same way they used me and he's doing great things. A whole lot more is being asked of him this year than the previous three and not only has he stepped-up to the challenge and done what Coach Brown has asked of him, but he has exceeded it."

NFL experts also are keenly aware of Benson's production, which is driven by a mix of speed, power, durability and versatility.

"If I had a Heisman vote, he'd be my guy," Gil Brandt, the NFL's chief draft consultant, recently told The Associated Press. "Without him, Texas would not be near the team they are right now."

C.O. Brocato, National Coordinator of College Scouting for the Tennessee Titans and a veteran of nearly 30 years in college scouting agrees.

"Cedric's an excellent running back and should definitely be a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy. One thing about him, he makes people miss and if they don't miss, then he just powers through them. He does things that I haven't seen a running back do in a long time."

Like an NCAA record 36 games with a touchdown. Or 5,305 yards rushing, 63 touchdowns, twenty-four 100-yard games, 5,913 all-purpose yards, 398 points and 66 total TDs. Those are all milestones that few in NCAA history have ever reached and are second only to Ricky Williams on the UT record book.

But for Benson, Friday's biggest milestone would be beating the Aggies in his final home game. Because winning has always been the most important thing to Benson.

"It's really important to me to leave a legacy at Texas," Benson said. "All of the individual awards are nice and will be something I would look back at and be proud of. But my teammates deserve all of the credit for that. You can't do it by yourself. The number one thing for me always will be winning."

Benson and his class of outgoing seniors playing in their final home game have done that better than any class before. In four seasons, they have matched the most wins by a four-year class in UT history with a 41-8 (83.7%), including an amazing 21-1 record at home.

In their final game at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Friday, they will look to build on that as well as help Benson expand his ever-growing Heisman Trophy and postseason honors resume.