Benson was viewed as a raw size/speed prospect out of Florida State, so the fact that he played only 131 snaps as a rookie doesn't indicate anything conclusively. Benson overcame a brutal knee injury at Oregon before transferring to Florida State, and between the time missed and the subsequent rust he had to shake off, Benson finished his collegiate career with surprisingly little usage (316 career carries). What made Benson interesting as a prospect anyway is the tantalizing speed/power threat he poses at 6-feet, 216 pounds. Few prospects can boast the sum of physical force and breakaway speed that Benson does on a given play, and that's what allowed him to be so productive in his limited collegiate usage (6.1 yards per carry, 24 rushing touchdowns). If Benson can iron out the rougher parts of his game and develop a more well-rounded skill set with experience than the light could go on any day, and the results could be uniquely explosive. In the meantime, though, Benson remains a developmental guy behind a proven workhorse in James Conner.
