Kurt Benkert
Kurt Benkert (born July 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Virginia and East Carolina University.
Benkert with Virginia at the 2017 Military Bowl | |||
No. 6 – Atlanta Falcons | |||
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Position: | Quarterback | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Baltimore, Maryland | July 17, 1995||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Island Coast (Cape Coral, Florida) | ||
College: | Virginia | ||
Undrafted: | 2018 | ||
Career history | |||
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Roster status: | Reserve/Future | ||
Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at PFR |
Early years
Benkert attended Cape Coral High School in Cape Coral, Florida and transferred to Island Coast High School in Cape Coral prior to his senior year. As a senior, he passed for 2,261 yards with 20 touchdowns. He committed to East Carolina University to play college football.
College career
After redshirting his first year at East Carolina in 2013, Benkert appeared in three games in 2014, completing eight of 10 passes for 58 yards and an interception. He was named East Carolina's starting quarterback heading into 2015, however he suffered a torn ACL before the season.[1] In May 2016, he transferred to the University of Virginia.[2][3]
In his first year at Virginia, Benkert was named the starting quarterback.[4][5] He completed 228 of 406 passes for 2,552 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.[6] In the third game of his senior season in 2017, Benkert broke the school record for passing yards in a game with 455.[7][8]
Professional career
Benkert signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018.[9] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[10][11] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Falcons on December 31, 2018.[12]
On August 6, 2019, Benkert was placed on injured reserve after suffering a toe injury in the preseason.[13]
On September 5, 2020, Benkert was waived by the Falcons and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15] He was elevated to the active roster on November 21 for the team's week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[16] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021.[17]
Personal life
Benkert married Samantha Morreal, on July 2, 2016.[18]
References
- "ECU QB Kurt Benkert out for season with knee injury".
- "East Carolina QB Kurt Benkert transferring to Virginia".
- Virginian-Pilot, The. "ECU transfer QB Kurt Benkert apparently headed to U.Va".
- "Island Coast's Kurt Benkert named Virginia's starting QB".
- "Transfer Kurt Benkert beats out incumbent Matt Johns as Virginia's starting QB". Washington Post.
- Teel, David. "Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert quietly confident".
- RAMSPACHER, ANDREW. "Record day from Benkert fuels Virginia's rout of UConn".
- "Southwest Florida to college football: Island Coast's Benkert sets Virginia passing record".
- "Falcons announce agreements with 27 undrafted free agents". FalconsWire.USAToday.com. May 1, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- McFadden, Will (September 1, 2018). "Falcons 2018 roster: Atlanta announces roster cuts, trims active roster down to 52". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- McFadden, Will (September 2, 2018). "Falcons sign 10 players to practice squad". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- Conway, Kelsey (December 31, 2018). "Falcons sign nine players to reserve/futures contracts". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- McFadden, Will (August 6, 2019). "Falcons place Kurt Benkert on IR, agree to terms with Tommy Doles". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- McFadden, Will (September 5, 2020). "Falcons 2020 roster announced". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- Ledbetter, D. Orlando (September 6, 2020). "Falcons claim lineman, fill out most of practice squad". AJC.com.
- McFadden, Will (November 21, 2020). "Falcons flex Kurt Benkert to active roster for Saints game". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- McFadden, Will (January 4, 2021). "Falcons sign 11 players to reserve/future contracts". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- "A man on the move". The Cavalier Daily. Retrieved May 20, 2018.