Josh Benton

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
5-11
Weight:
200
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Jacksonville
High School:
Jacksonville
Major:
Communication

Two-year letterman (2024-25) … Played in 23 career games (no starts) … Registered 15 total stops (seven solo) with 2.5 TFLs (-6 yards) that included a half sack (-4 yards) … Credited with quarterback hurry … Booked at least one tackle in eight of 23 games (multiple four times).

2025: Played in all 13 games earning second varsity letter … Logged 69 plays on defense … Also experienced action on special teams units … Booked 13 tackles (five solo) … Registered 2.5 TFLs (-6 yards) which included a half sack (-4 yards) … Credited with a quarterback hurry against Charlotte … Recorded a career-best three tackles in a game three times (Temple, Charlotte, Memphis) … Registered a half TFL against Tulsa (1.0/-1 yard), Charlotte (0.5/-4 yards) and Memphis (1.0/-1 yard) … Recorded one tackle on special teams unit.

2024: Played in nine games earning first varsity letter ... Logged 67 total snaps (5 offense, 4, defense, 58 special teams) ... Booked one tackle (solo) coming in the season opener where he played four snaps as a member of the defense ... Played on the offensive side of the ball in two games (FAU 2 snaps; Tulsa 3 snaps) ... Primarily used as a member of special teams unit.

2023: Appeared in one game making one tackle (solo) … Made collegiate debut against Gardner-Webb logging four plays as a member of the defensive unit … Tallied first career tackle (solo) against Gardner-Webb.

2022: Did not experience game action during initial year with the program ... Earned Special Teams Scout Player-of-the-Year Award at ECU's annual end of the year banquet.

High School: Two-sport athlete (football, basketball) at Jacksonville High School for head coach Beau Williams … On the gridiron, he appeared in 27 games completing 88-of-238 passes for 1,685 yards (19.1 ypp) … Threw 21 touchdowns while suffering just nine interceptions … Added 1,628 ground yards on 207 carries (7.9 ypr) with 19 scores … Rushed for 100-plus yards in a game on four occasions … In all, he tallied 3,322 total yards averaging 123.0 per contest … During his senior campaign, he threw for 850 yards connecting on 53-of-144 passes … Threw 12 TD passes to just five interceptions … Ran for 1,257 yards on 149 carries (8.4 ypc) … Scored 12 times on the ground with a season-high three TDs against Southwest Onslow (Aug. 20) and West Carteret (Sept. 10) … Helped the Cardinals to an 11-3 record and a postseason berth … Rushed for 100 yards or more four times with a career-best 312 against J.H. Rose (17 carries) in the NCHSAA 3-A Regional Championship Game (Dec. 3) … As a junior he was a two-time MaxPreps Player-of-the-Game honoree (March 12 and 26) … Against Northside, rushed for season-best 130 yards on eight carries with four TDs, while adding 91 ariel yards … Two weeks later versus Swansboro, completed 6-of-13 passes for a career-best 266 yards and four scores … Completed season passing for 813 yards on 33 completions (88 attempts) with eight TDs and four interceptions … Added 315 yards on the ground on 47 carries (6.7 ypc) … Registered first career 100-yard game against Northside (March 12) … Scored six rushing touchdowns … Appeared in three games as sophomore completing 2-of-6 passes for 22 yards and a score … Rushed 11 times for 56 yards and a score against White Oak (Sept. 27) … On the hardwood, he played in 33 career games averaging 6.5 points per contest … Tallied 214 career points hitting on 87 or 186 shots … Also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game.