Kurt Benkert
![]() Benkert with Virginia at the 2017 Military Bowl | |||
No. 6 – Green Bay Packers | |||
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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: | East Carolina (2013–2015) Virginia (2016–2017) | ||
Undrafted: | 2018 | ||
Career history | |||
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Roster status: | Practice squad | ||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2021 | |||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Kurt Benkert (born July 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at East Carolina and Virginia, and originally signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
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[]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in (1.90 m) |
218 lb (99 kg) |
31 in (0.79 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.95 s | 4.33 s | 7.15 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) |
16 reps | |||
All values from NFL Combine[9] |
Atlanta Falcons[]
Benkert signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018.[10] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[11][12] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Falcons on December 31, 2018.[13]
On August 6, 2019, Benkert was placed on injured reserve after suffering a toe injury in the preseason.[14]
On September 5, 2020, Benkert was waived by the Falcons and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16] 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.[17] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 4, 2021,[18] but was waived on February 18, 2021.[19]
Green Bay Packers[]
On May 17, 2021, Benkert signed with the Green Bay Packers.[20] On August 31, 2021, Packers released Benkert as part of their final roster cuts.[21] He was signed to the practice squad the next day.[22] Benkert was elevated to the active roster on December 7, 2021 to replace Jordan Love, who had been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list the day before.[23] He saw the field for the first time in his professional career on December 12, kneeling the ball twice in the closing seconds of a 45-30 win over the Chicago Bears.
Personal life[]
Benkert married Samantha Morreal on July 2, 2016.[24]
References[]
- ^ "ECU QB Kurt Benkert out for season with knee injury".
- ^ "East Carolina QB Kurt Benkert transferring to Virginia".
- ^ "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". The 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".
- ^ "Kurt Benkert Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Falcons announce agreements with 27 undrafted free agents". USA Today. 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.
- ^ Conway, Kelsey (February 18, 2021). "Falcons release Ricardo Allen, Allen Bailey and waive Kurt Benkert". Atlanta Falcons Official Website. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ "Packers sign QB Kurt Benkert". packers.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ "Packers announce roster moves". packers.com. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Packers sign 16 players to practice squad". packers.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Green Bay Packers elevate Kurt Benkert as Jordan Love COVID-19 replacement". TMJ4.com. WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ "A man on the move". The Cavalier Daily. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
External links[]
- 1995 births
- Living people
- American football quarterbacks
- Atlanta Falcons players
- Green Bay Packers players
- East Carolina Pirates football players
- People from Cape Coral, Florida
- Players of American football from Florida
- Virginia Cavaliers football players
- Twitch (service) streamers