SIDESWIPED
Benson's Heisman hopes hit by a flashy red model
By Lorne Chan
Special to the Star-Telegram
AUSTIN - The Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation's top running back,
could be waiting in Dallas for Cedric Benson.
He's leading the nation in rushing yards with 1,297 yards and just became the
10th player in NCAA history to gain 5,000 career rushing yards.
The biggest factor might be that this award
isn't open to freshmen.
Benson is on pace for one of the best seasons in Big 12 history, but all the
hype is heading Oklahoma freshman Adrian Peterson's way.
Because of Peterson, Benson might be overlooked
for the biggest individual award, the Heisman Trophy.
Peterson is the biggest star in college football at the moment, and Benson, the
only player with more rushing yards this season, knows.
"I'm not on the cover of Sports Illustrated," Benson said.
The lack of Heisman hype around Benson may be for a lack of flash. There are no
runs worthy of ESPN's SportsCenter, like Peterson's 80-yard touchdown last week.
In fact, Benson's longest run in conference play this season is for 23 yards.
With a power-running game, Benson's yards come in increments of 4 and 6.
"Cedric's not real flashy, he doesn't break a ton of really long runs," Texas
tight end David Thomas said. "He breaks defenses down, just pounds and pounds
for 4 yards and 6 yards, then he ends up with 160 yards."
Benson has outgained Peterson by 25 yards and outgained Peterson all but two
weeks this season. Last week Peterson rushed for 249 yards against Oklahoma
State and Benson ran for 141 against Colorado. In Oklahoma's 12-0 win over
Texas, Peterson outrushed Benson 225-92.
On five other Saturdays when Texas and Oklahoma both played, it was Benson who
had more rushing yards. He averages 162 yards per game to Peterson's 159.
"I don't think you can say enough about the way Cedric has played this year;
he's really carried the team," Thomas said.
With Texas' passing offense ranked 110th of 117 Division I-A schools, there is
little to divert defenses from Benson.
Unlike Peterson, Benson does not have a former Heisman winner taking the snaps
(Jason White) or an All-America receiver (Mark Clayton) lining up in the slot
position. But he is gaining yards the hard way. More than half of his yards (56
percent) have come after contact.
Benson's play also benefits the Longhorns in other areas. He was the lead
blocker on a Vince Young touchdown run against Colorado, and his running helps
keep opposing offenses off the field.
"[Benson's] been a great defense for us this year," Texas coach Mack Brown said.
"We've been averaging over 32 minutes of possession, and if our offense
continues to stay on the field, it really helps us."
But for Heisman voters to take notice, Benson needs a big game against Oklahoma
State on Saturday. It will be nationally televised on TBS, and the Cowboys are
fresh off being run over by Peterson.
In three career games against Oklahoma State, Benson is averaging 142.7 yards
per game with one touchdown.
"We're going to try to tackle better," Oklahoma State coach Les Miles said. "We
bounced off Adrian at times, and certainly he's a very talented back, very much
like Cedric."
The Dec. 11 Heisman ceremony is creeping closer, and the Benson campaign might
pick up more steam as he moves up all-time rushing lists.
Benson ranks 10th on the career rushing list with 5,003 yards, and will likely
pass Herschel Walker and Archie Griffin, among others, as he needs 595 yards in
the next four games to end his career in fourth place.
Six of the previous nine players who reached the 5,000-yard mark won the
Heisman.
"When you look up and his name is next to Tony Dorsett, Archie Griffin and
Herschel Walker," Brown said. "He's starting to surpass some of those names and
a lot of those guys won the Heisman, so he deserves to be in New York in
December."
Cedric Benson
Opponent Rush. Yds. Avg. TD
North Texas 15 181 12.1 2
Arkansas 29 188 6.5 1
Rice 20 189 9.5 1
Baylor 34 188 5.5 3
Oklahoma 23 92 4.0 0
Missouri 28 150 5.4 2
Texas Tech 38 168 4.4 1
Colorado 32 141 4.4 2
Totals 219 1,297 5.9 12
Adrian Peterson
Opponent Rush. Yds. Avg. TD
Bowling Green 16 100 6.3 1
Houston 25 117 4.7 2
Oregon 24 183 7.6 2
Texas Tech 22 146 6.6 1
Texas 32 225 7.0 0
Kansas State 36 130 3.6 0
Kansas 22 122 5.6 1
Oklahoma St. 33 249 7.6 1
Totals 210 1,272 6.1 8