Arizona Cardinals rookie RB Trey Benson shared his hilarious inspiration for running in the NFL, and it’s definitely not who you would expect. The third-round pick out of Florida State by way of Oregon was the second running back picked overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was preceded only by Jonathon Brooks, who was picked up by Carolina in the second round.
Cardinals Rookie Channels Fictional Alabama All-American
While speaking to reporters Friday at minicamp, Benson revealed the classic movie character that he sees as his inspiration for his NFL career:
“Once I get to the second level, my teammates used to call me Forrest Gump,” Benson said. “Forrest Gump, that’s all I’m thinking about. Second level, once I get to the second level, Forrest Gump. Don’t get caught. Just run. Hit your head on the goal post.”
This amusing revelation is surprising, considering the classic film was released ten tears before Benson was born. But, once a nickname sticks, you usually have to run with it. We don’t have any official numbers for Gump from the NFL Scouting Combine, but we do know that Benson is one of the fastest guys out there with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.
Benson Set to Participate Early in 2024
With so much draft capital being laid out by the Cardinals for Benson, it’s clear that they expect him to come in and get to work right away. He is the clear choice for RB2 behind veteran James Conner, and he will stand by to step into Conner’s role if the need or opportunity arises. Benson spoke about his expectations on Friday:
“Run the rock, can’t say nothing more than that,” Benson said when asked about joining the Cardinals’ hard-nosed rushing squad. “Really, just get the ball to the running backs cause we do everything on the football field. We’re like hybrids: We block, we pass block, we catch the ball and we run the ball. I’m looking forward to this offense, for sure.”
Roots in Greenville, not Greenbow
Benson shares similar southern roots with his fictional inspiration, hailing from Greenville, MS, instead of Greenbow, AL. Greenville is in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the Blues, where cotton and soybean fields stretch to the horizon in all directions. The Delta is one of the poorest areas in the state, and Benson shared his triumph in “getting out” of Mississippi:
“I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t know when,” he said of getting drafted by the Cardinals. “Just kept my faith in God and put my head down and got to work. I came a long way these past couple years. I’m from Mississippi, so it’s hard to make it out of Mississippi.”
What to Expect Next Season
Benson will be joining one of the more experienced RB squads in the NFL, with an average NFL experience of nearly six years between the five RBs currently on the roster. As Benson stated, a lot is expected from the Cardinals’ running backs in terms of versatility and durability. He’ll be expected not only to run but also pass block and run routes.
If his running style is anything like his fictional inspiration, we can expect Benson to be hitting his head on the goal post early in 2024. Hopefully the Cardinals won’t have to resort to using giant RUN and STOP signs in the endzone.
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