Posthumous honors continue to be bestowed on former Rebels’ running back Cedric Benson.
The University of Texas recently announced that Benson is among a group of three Longhorns selected for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco. The two other inductees are Todd Dodge, a Port Arthur Jefferson High School product who played quarterback at the school from 1982-85, and Chris Plonsky, who spent 16 years as UT’s women's athletics director and is entering her 37th year working for the athletic department.
According to a news release, Benson ranks second on the University of Texas all-time rushing list and won the Doak Walker Award in 2004 as a senior after rushing for 1,834 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns. He played for the team from 2001-2004 before entering the 2005 National Football League (NFL) Draft and being selected third overall by the Chicago Bears. Benson passed away on August 17, 2019, in a motorcycle accident in Austin.
Last month, the Midland City Council approved a future monetary donation that will allow for a statue of Benson to be situated at Astound Broadband Stadium. The proposed monument will be modeled after a photo used as a cover shot by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine when Benson played for the Rebels.
Councilman John Norman said, "Great honor you know Cedric Benson was you know one of the best running backs to come out of Midland, this area period." Norman added, "I mean we won three state championships in a row. I guess you could say put Lee High School on the map as far as football you know when they won those state championships."