Trey Benson Bio
Kurtrell “Trey” Benson is an American professional football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 23, 2002, in Greenville, Mississippi, he played college football for the Oregon Ducks and the Florida State Seminoles before being selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, Benson plays a physical, between-the-tackles style and has quickly become a key part of Arizona’s offensive backfield.
Early Life and Background
Trey Benson was born on July 23, 2002, in Greenville, Mississippi, where he spent his early years before moving into organized football. He attended O’Bannon High School before transferring to St. Joseph Catholic High School, finishing his high school career at the Greenville institution. Across his final two prep seasons, Benson rushed for 3,616 yards and 48 touchdowns, numbers that established him as one of the most productive running backs in the region and drew attention from major college programs.
His strong senior production helped him earn a scholarship to the University of Oregon, where he joined a Pac-12 program known for developing skilled skill-position players. Benson’s combination of size, speed, and finishing ability in the red zone made him a priority target for the Ducks’ coaching staff. He has often spoken about how his Mississippi upbringing shaped his work ethic and toughness on the field.
Path to American Football
Benson’s path to the professional level began with his commitment to Oregon, where he arrived as a highly regarded recruit out of Mississippi. His first season in Eugene was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in 2020, forcing him to miss the entire year and learn the speed of the college game from the sideline. The injury, however, did not derail his long-term development.
In 2021, Benson returned to action for the Ducks and recorded six carries for 22 yards and a touchdown in a limited role. Looking for a larger opportunity after the season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Florida State University, joining an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) program that valued his downhill running style. At Florida State, he initially split carries with Lawrance Toafili and Treshaun Ward before eventually working his way into the lead back role and earning second-team All-ACC honors in both 2022 and 2023.
Trey Benson Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Benson’s early college career at Oregon was defined by both promise and patience. After arriving as a touted recruit, he lost his entire freshman year to a torn ACL, an experience that required significant rehabilitation and dedication to come back from. Once healthy in 2021, he showed flashes of the burst and physicality that had made him a priority signing for the Ducks.
Even with limited carries, Benson maximized his opportunities, scoring a touchdown and showing the leg drive that would later become a hallmark of his game. The experience of recovering from a major injury, combined with a crowded depth chart in Eugene, helped him make the decision to transfer and seek a clearer path to a featured role at another Power Five program.
Florida State Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After transferring to Florida State, Benson stepped into a backfield that already featured established veterans. During his first year with the Seminoles, he shared snaps with Lawrance Toafili and Treshaun Ward, learning the ACC’s defensive speed and adjusting to a new offensive system. By the end of the season, he had earned the trust of the coaching staff and was operating as the Seminoles’ lead back.
Benson’s breakout came in 2022, when he was named second-team All-ACC after a season in which he showcased his ability to run through contact and finish drives inside the five-yard line. He followed that performance with another second-team All-ACC selection in 2023, cementing his status as one of the top running back prospects in college football. His combination of size, vision, and touchdown-scoring consistency drew attention from NFL scouts throughout the 2023 campaign.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2023 season, Benson declared for the 2024 NFL draft, where the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the third round with the 66th overall pick. On July 18, 2024, he signed his four-year rookie contract with the Cardinals, officially beginning his professional career. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2024 season, rushing for 13 yards on three attempts and adding one reception for five yards.
As the season progressed, Benson continued to grow into a complementary role alongside veteran James Conner. In Week 10, he rushed for 62 yards on 10 carries and added two receptions for 25 yards in a 31–6 win against the New York Jets, one of his most productive outings as a rookie. A late-season ankle injury placed him on injured reserve in late December, causing him to miss Weeks 16 and 17. He finished his rookie year with 291 rushing yards and a touchdown on 63 carries, along with 59 receiving yards on six catches.
Driving Style and Strengths
Benson is known for a physical, north-south running style built on leg drive and contact balance. He excels in short-yardage and goal-line situations, where his low center of gravity and finishing toughness allow him to move the pile. He is also a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield, capable of turning screen passes into positive yardage. Defenses have to account for both his power between the tackles and his ability to pick up blitzes in protection.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Benson’s young career came in Week 10 of the 2024 season, when he delivered a strong all-around performance in a road win over the New York Jets. He was also a central figure in Florida State’s backfield resurgence, earning back-to-back second-team All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023. His third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft marked the realization of a goal he had set after recovering from his college ACL injury.
Trey Benson Career Wins
Although individual rushing totals and touchdowns are more readily available than win-loss splits for running backs, Benson’s career has been marked by several team victories in which he played a meaningful role. His most notable regular-season win as a professional came in Week 10 of 2024 against the Jets, and he has been part of multiple college wins during his time at Florida State as the Seminoles’ lead back.
College Highlights
During his time at Florida State, Benson helped the Seminoles to consistent winning stretches as a featured back, contributing on the ground and through the air. His two second-team All-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023 highlighted his impact, even as Florida State’s offensive identity shifted around its running game. He also appeared in a win column during his brief 2021 action at Oregon, scoring a touchdown in limited duty.
Trey Benson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Benson grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, in a family that has been part of his athletic story from the start. Mississippi is well known for producing tough, physical football players, and his hometown roots continue to shape his approach to the game. Specific details about his parents and siblings are not part of the public record in the available sources.
Personal Life
Off the field, Benson has focused largely on his football career, working his way from a small-town Mississippi upbringing to the highest level of professional football. Public information about his spouse, children, or other personal relationships is not currently available in the verified record. He is widely viewed by teammates and coaches as a quiet, focused professional dedicated to his craft.
2025 Season Performance
Benson entered the 2025 season as Arizona’s second-string running back behind James Conner, providing depth and a change-of-pace option in the Cardinals’ backfield. After Conner suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3, Benson was elevated to the team’s primary back, a role that represented a significant step forward in his second NFL campaign. The promotion gave him a chance to handle a much larger share of the offensive workload.
His expanded opportunity was briefly interrupted in Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, when he suffered a meniscus injury that required arthroscopic surgery and was expected to sideline him for four to six weeks. The timeline placed his return somewhere in the middle of the schedule, allowing him time to recover fully and rejoin the Cardinals’ offense later in the year. When healthy, Benson was in line to handle lead-back duties for a Cardinals team looking to build momentum around its run game.
Looking ahead, Benson’s outlook for the rest of 2025 depends heavily on his recovery from the meniscus procedure and how Arizona chooses to pace him upon his return. The Cardinals invested a third-round pick in him with the expectation that he would eventually grow into a featured role, and his early 2025 opportunity behind a veteran offered a first look at that potential. If he returns on schedule and stays healthy, the second half of the season could mark the moment he cements himself as a long-term building block for the franchise.