Travis Benjamin Drafted by Cleveland in the Fourth Round

April 28, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla.–Travis Benjamin has been drafted to the Cleveland Browns, the 12th Cane to go to the Browns in school history and the 35th wide receiver drafted in UM history.

Benjamin is the fourth Cane off the board as the fifth pick of the fourth round and 100th overall. Benjamin joins Olivier Vernon (Miami), Sean Spence (Pittsburgh) and Lamar Miller (Miami) taken through four rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The Belle Glade, Fla. native ended his career as one of only six players in program history with more than 2,000 receiving yards, capping his career with 2,146. Benjamin hauled in 131 passes, scoring 13 touchdowns and averaging 43.8 yards per game.

BENJAMIN’S HIGHLIGHTS

BENJAMIN’S BIO

2011 JACK HARDIN TEAM MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
2008 RIVALS.COM FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM

2011 (SENIOR): Played in 11 games on the season, starting nine of them … Ended his career as one of only six players in program history with more than 2,000 receiving yards, capping his career with 2,146 … Tallied 3,874 all-purpose yards over the course of his career, good for third-best in program history … Finished the season second on the team in a number of categories, including receiving yards (609), average receiving yards per game (55.4) and average yards per catch (14.9) … Recorded three receiving touchdowns on the year, including a 77-yard strike against Virginia Tech … Recorded season highs in both catches (8) and receiving yardage (99) against North Carolina … Served as the Hurricanes’ primary return man, recording all of the team’s 11 punt returns with an average of 11.0 yards per return … Also returned 25 kickoffs with an average of 23.7 yards per return, good for third in the conference…Served as one of the team captains for the game versus Virginia…Four-year letterwinner.

2010 (JUNIOR): Set career highs in receptions (43) and receiving yards (743), both second on the team … Led the team with a 17.3 yards per catch average … Led the team in punt returns and punt return yardage, while scoring the team’s only touchdown via punt return with a 79-yard return against Ohio State … Totaled 924 all-purpose yards … Started nine of 13 games … Had a season-high 127 yards in the win vs. Maryland … Grabbed a season-high six catches in the win against Pittsburgh.

2009 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games for the Hurricanes … Second-leading receiver with 501 yards, averaging 17.4 yards per catch … Third in catches (29) and receiving touchdowns (4) … Also returned nine punts for 57 yards with a long of 33 yards against Florida A&M … Totaled 597 all-purpose yards (21 rush, 501 receiving, 57 punt return, 18 kickoff return) in 13 games … Had a career-best 128 yard receiving game on four catches in the season opener at Florida State … Started games against Wake Forest and Duke … Hauled in a career-long 69-yard touchdown reception against Clemson and finished with 82 yards on three catches … Had three receptions for 61 yards in the win against Oklahoma, including a 38-yard touchdown reception … Caught the eventual game-winning touchdown against Wake Forest–a 13-yard grab in the fourth quarter … Had a season-long 13-yard rush against Georgia Tech.

2008 (FRESHMAN): Played in 12 of 13 games, making five starts … Fifth-leading receiver with 18 receptions for 293 yards … Led the team in punt return yardage (181), kick return yardage (496) and yards per reception (16.3) while ranking second in all-purpose yards (1,012) and touchdowns (4) … Started games against UCF, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech … Caught a career-high four passes for 72 yards against Wake Forest … Had a breakout game against Florida State, hauling in three receptions for 71 yards, including a career-long 51-yard reception … Also added an 18-yard rushing TD and returned six kickoffs for 185 yards with a career-long 57 yarder … His 274 all-purpose yards against the Seminoles was the most by a Hurricane since Edgerrin James had 310 all-purpose yards (299 rushing, 11 receiving) against UCLA in 1998 … Completed a 17-yard pass to quarterback Jacory Harris on a double-reverse at Duke … Also ran track for UM and participated in the 55m and 60m during the indoor season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time All-Palm Beach County selection by Palm Beach Post … Played on a state championship team as a junior and helped lead his team as a senior to an 11-2 record and the Region 4-3A finals … As a senior, caught 40 passes for 655 yards and eight touchdowns … In a game against Palm Beach Gardens, gained 339 total yards, with two touchdowns receiving and one each on punt and kickoff returns … As a junior, caught 23 passes for 494 yards and seven touchdowns … Coached by Willie Snead … Ranked as the No. 48 player in Florida and the No. 42 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com … Rated the No. 76 player in Florida and the No. 104 wide receiver by Scout.com … Ranked the No. 21 wide receiver and the No. 144 player overall by ESPN.com … Ranked 18th overall on the South Florida Top 25 by the Miami Herald … Rated the No. 6 wide receiver in Florida by the Florida Times-Union.

CANES DRAFTED BY THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
Leon Williams, LB (2006, 4 (110))
Kellen Winslow,TE (2004, 1 (6))
Joaquin Gonzalez,T (2002, 7 (227))
James Jackson,RB (2001, 3 (65)
Andre King, WR (2001, 7 (245))
A.C. Tellison, WR (1995, 7 (231))
Gregg Rakoczy, C (1987, 2 (32))
Willie Smith, TE (1986, 10 (265))
Rocky Belk, WR (1983, 7 (176))
Scott Nicolas, LB (1982, 12 (313))
Bernie Kosar, QB (1984, 1)*

*Supplemental Draft