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Meet Kurt Benkert, The Rising Star Of The UFL

Trends January 10, 2025

Who is Kurt Benkert?

Kurt Benkert is a former American football quarterback who played for the University of Virginia and the University of Florida.

Benkert was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and attended Damascus High School. He was a four-star recruit and committed to the University of Virginia to play college football.

At Virginia, Benkert was a backup quarterback for two seasons before becoming the starter in 2016. He led the Cavaliers to an 8-4 record and a berth in the Military Bowl.

After graduating from Virginia, Benkert transferred to the University of Florida. He was named the starting quarterback for the 2018 season.

Benkert's time at Florida was less successful than his time at Virginia. He threw for only 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.

After the 2018 season, Benkert went undrafted in the NFL Draft. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent.

Benkert was released by the Falcons in 2019 and has not played professional football since.

Kurt Benkert Wikipedia

Kurt Benkert

Kurt Benkert's time at the University of Florida was a mixed bag. He had some success, but he also struggled at times. Here are eight key aspects of his Florida career:

Stats: 1,345 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
Record: 4-8
Highlights: Led Florida to a win over rival Florida State in 2018
Lowlights: Threw for only 100 yards in a loss to Kentucky in 2018
Strengths: Strong arm, good mobility
Weaknesses: Accuracy, decision-making
Draft: Undrafted in 2019
Post-NFL: Has not played professional football since 2019

Overall, Benkert's time at Florida was a disappointment. He failed to live up to expectations and was eventually replaced as the starting quarterback. However, he did show some flashes of potential, and he could still have a successful career in the NFL.

1. Stats

Kurt Benkert's stats from his time at the University of Florida are a mixed bag. He threw for 1,345 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. These stats are not particularly impressive, but they are not terrible either. They suggest that Benkert has some potential, but he also has some areas that he needs to improve.

One of Benkert's strengths is his arm strength. He can make all the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make. He also has good mobility, which allows him to extend plays and avoid sacks.

However, Benkert also has some weaknesses. One of his biggest weaknesses is his accuracy. He often misses his targets, which can be frustrating for his receivers and coaches. He also needs to improve his decision-making. He sometimes makes poor decisions that lead to turnovers.

Overall, Benkert's stats from his time at the University of Florida are a mixed bag. He has some potential, but he also has some areas that he needs to improve. It remains to be seen whether he can develop into a successful NFL quarterback.

2. Record

Kurt Benkert's record as a starting quarterback at the University of Florida was 4-8. This record is not particularly impressive, but it is important to note that Benkert was playing for a team that was in the midst of a rebuilding process. The Gators had gone 4-7 the previous season, and they had lost a number of key players to graduation and the NFL Draft.

Despite the team's struggles, Benkert showed some flashes of potential. He threw for over 1,300 yards and 7 touchdowns, and he also rushed for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also led the Gators to a big win over rival Florida State in 2018.

However, Benkert also made some mistakes. He threw 6 interceptions, and he was sacked 26 times. He also struggled with his accuracy at times.

Overall, Benkert's record as a starting quarterback at the University of Florida was mixed. He showed some flashes of potential, but he also made some mistakes. It remains to be seen whether he can develop into a successful NFL quarterback.

3. Highlights

Kurt Benkert's highlight as a quarterback at the University of Florida was leading the Gators to a win over rival Florida State in 2018. The Gators had lost to the Seminoles the previous two seasons, so the win was a big one for Benkert and the program.

Benkert played well in the game, completing 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown.

The win over Florida State was a big moment in Benkert's career. It showed that he could lead the Gators to victory against a top-ranked opponent. It also helped to build confidence in the team, which went on to win four of its last six games.

Overall, Benkert's win over Florida State was a significant moment in his career. It showed that he had the potential to be a successful quarterback at the University of Florida.

4. Lowlights

Kurt Benkert's performance in Florida's 27-16 loss to Kentucky in 2018 was one of the lowlights of his college career. He completed just 9 of 22 passes for 100 yards and was sacked four times. This poor performance contributed to Florida's struggles on offense, and ultimately led to the team's defeat.

There are several factors that may have contributed to Benkert's poor performance in this game. One possibility is that he was not adequately prepared for Kentucky's defense. Kentucky's defense was one of the best in the SEC in 2018, and they were able to put a lot of pressure on Benkert throughout the game.

Another possibility is that Benkert was simply not playing well. He had thrown for over 200 yards in each of his previous three games, but he was unable to find his rhythm against Kentucky. He missed several open receivers and made some poor decisions with the football.

Whatever the reasons for his poor performance, Benkert's struggles against Kentucky were a reminder that he is still a young and developing quarterback. He has the potential to be a good player, but he needs to be more consistent and make better decisions. If he can do that, he has the chance to be a successful quarterback at the University of Florida.

5. Strengths

Kurt Benkert's strong arm and good mobility are two of his most important assets as a quarterback. His arm strength allows him to make all the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make, and his mobility allows him to extend plays and avoid sacks.

Benkert's arm strength was on display in his game against Florida State in 2018. He completed a 41-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and he also threw a 35-yard pass in the fourth quarter that set up the game-winning field goal. His mobility was also on display in that game, as he rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Benkert's arm strength and mobility are also important for the Florida Gators offense as a whole. His arm strength allows him to stretch the field and make big plays, and his mobility allows him to keep the offense moving even when the protection breaks down.

Overall, Kurt Benkert's strong arm and good mobility are two of his most important assets as a quarterback. They allow him to make all the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make, and they also help the Florida Gators offense to be more dynamic and explosive.

6. Weaknesses

Kurt Benkert's accuracy and decision-making were two of his biggest weaknesses as a quarterback at the University of Florida. He often missed open receivers, and he sometimes made poor decisions that led to turnovers.

Accuracy
Benkert's accuracy was a problem throughout his career at Florida. He completed only 54.8% of his passes in 2018, which ranked 11th in the SEC. He also threw 6 interceptions, which tied for the most in the SEC.
Benkert's inaccuracy was a major problem for the Florida offense. It made it difficult for the Gators to sustain drives and score points. It also led to several turnovers, which gave the opposing team good field position.
Decision-making
Benkert's decision-making was also a problem at times. He often made poor decisions that led to turnovers. For example, in the game against Kentucky in 2018, Benkert threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He also made several other poor decisions that led to the Gators losing the game.
Benkert's poor decision-making was a major problem for the Florida offense. It led to several turnovers, which gave the opposing team good field position. It also made it difficult for the Gators to sustain drives and score points.

Overall, Benkert's accuracy and decision-making were two of his biggest weaknesses as a quarterback at the University of Florida. These weaknesses prevented him from reaching his full potential and led to several losses for the Gators.

7. Draft

Kurt Benkert went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. This was a disappointment for Benkert, who was hoping to be selected in the middle rounds of the draft. However, Benkert's lack of accuracy and decision-making likely contributed to his undrafted status.

Benkert's accuracy was a major problem throughout his career at Florida. He completed only 54.8% of his passes in 2018, which ranked 11th in the SEC. He also threw 6 interceptions, which tied for the most in the SEC.

Benkert's decision-making was also a problem at times. He often made poor decisions that led to turnovers. For example, in the game against Kentucky in 2018, Benkert threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He also made several other poor decisions that led to the Gators losing the game.

Benkert's lack of accuracy and decision-making likely contributed to his undrafted status. NFL teams were concerned about his ability to make the throws necessary to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. They were also concerned about his ability to make good decisions under pressure.

Despite going undrafted, Benkert signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. He was released by the Falcons in 2019 and has not played professional football since.

8. Post-NFL

Despite going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kurt Benkert signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. However, he was released by the Falcons in 2019 and has not played professional football since.

Lack of Opportunity
One of the main reasons why Benkert has not played professional football since 2019 is because he has not been given a fair opportunity. He was released by the Falcons before the start of the 2019 season, and he has not been able to find a new team since then.
Injury
Another reason why Benkert has not played professional football since 2019 is because of injuries. He suffered a shoulder injury in 2019 that required surgery, and he has not been able to fully recover from the injury.
Competition
The quarterback position is one of the most competitive positions in all of sports. There are only 32 starting quarterback jobs in the NFL, and there are hundreds of quarterbacks who are competing for those jobs. Benkert is a talented quarterback, but he has not been able to beat out the competition for a starting job.

It is unclear whether Benkert will ever play professional football again. He is still only 26 years old, so he has plenty of time to resurrect his career. However, he will need to find a team that is willing to give him a chance, and he will need to stay healthy and avoid injuries.

Kurt Benkert FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kurt Benkert, a former American football quarterback who played for the University of Virginia and the University of Florida:

Question 1: Why did Kurt Benkert go undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft?

Benkert went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft likely due to concerns about his accuracy and decision-making. He completed only 54.8% of his passes in 2018, which ranked 11th in the SEC. He also threw 6 interceptions, which tied for the most in the SEC. Additionally, Benkert made several poor decisions that led to turnovers.

Question 2: Why has Benkert not played professional football since 2019?

Benkert has not played professional football since 2019 because he has not been given a fair opportunity, has been injured, and faces stiff competition at the quarterback position.

Question 3: What are Benkert's strengths as a quarterback?

Benkert's strengths as a quarterback include his strong arm and good mobility. His arm strength allows him to make all the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make, and his mobility allows him to extend plays and avoid sacks.

Question 4: What are Benkert's weaknesses as a quarterback?

Benkert's weaknesses as a quarterback include his accuracy and decision-making. He often misses open receivers and makes poor decisions that lead to turnovers.

Question 5: What is Benkert's future outlook?

Summary: Kurt Benkert is a talented quarterback with a strong arm and good mobility. However, his accuracy and decision-making have been major problems throughout his career. As a result, he went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft and has not played professional football since 2019. It is unclear whether Benkert will ever get another chance to play in the NFL, but he has the potential to be a successful quarterback if he can improve his accuracy and decision-making.

Transition: For more information on Kurt Benkert, please visit his Wikipedia page.

Conclusion

Kurt Benkert's journey as a college football player was one of ups and downs. He had some success, but he also struggled at times. He was a talented quarterback with a strong arm and good mobility, but his accuracy and decision-making were major problems throughout his career.

Despite his struggles, Benkert showed flashes of potential. He led the Florida Gators to a win over rival Florida State in 2018, and he also rushed for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns that season. He also completed over 60% of his passes in his final season at Florida.

Benkert's future outlook is uncertain. He went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has not played professional football since 2019. However, he is still only 26 years old, so he has plenty of time to resurrect his career. If he can improve his accuracy and decision-making, he has the potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.