There’s something exhilarating about having thousands of people screaming your name every time you do your job. It is a feeling that can only be understood through experience. It raises a man of flesh and blood to god, and at this point your actions are capable of bringing joy and happiness to the lives of multitudes. To achieve this glory, however, takes years of diligent practice, discipline and hard work and very few men are able to pay the price. Kelvin Benjamin, the Buffalo Bills wide receiver, is one of those who have gone down this path. Let’s take a closer look at the life of the American football player.
Kelvin Benjamin – Biography,
A baby from the 90s, Kelvin takes his first breath in BelleGlade, Florida. Little is known about Kelvin Benjamin’s upbringing, but we do know that he was raised by his mother, Christine, along with three other siblings in Belle Glade, Florida.
Benjamin was engaged in sports early in his life. In high school, at Glades Central, Belle Glade, Florida, he ran track, played basketball and football. Benjamin has proven to be an athletic and well-coordinated player from an early age. As an athlete, he competed in show jumping events. Finishing in third place in a competition held in Florida in 2009. He then achieved the feat by winning the gold medal at the 2010 Glades Central Invitational.
In football, which he focused on as a career, Benjamin established himself as a wide receiver due to his speed and catching ability. He finished his high school career as a senior with 30 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns.
By the time college recruiting season rolled around, Kelvin Benjamin was considered a four-star recruit by scouts. ESPN and Scout.com, two of the nation’s largest sports companies, ranked him the 23rd player and 12th receiver in the nation, respectively. As a top player, college football scholarship offers were plentiful for Kelvin. Of the picks from Virginia Tech, Auburn, Florida State and Miami, Benjamin chose Florida State.
Kelvin only spent two years at Florida State before playing professionally in the NFL. But before leaving, he made his mark at the University. In his first season as a college player, he appeared in all 14 games for the team and recorded 30 receptions and four touchdowns. He followed up his successful first season with an even better record of 54 receptions and 15 touchdowns. He ended the season with a BCS title win over Auburn, scoring the game-clinching touchdown.
His remarkable sophomore season earned him a spot on the Sports Illustrated All American First Team. After declaring the NFL draft in 2014, Kelvin became one of the most wanted receivers in the draft. His potential and his track record make him an attractive prospect for several NFL teams. When the draft was finally released, Carolina Panthers acquired Kelvin’s services with the 28th overall pick.
After signing a four-year, $7 million rookie contract, Kelvin started his rookie season competing with Jericho Cotchery for the No. 1 wide receiver position. He scored a touchdown in his debut and his performance in his first game earned him the NFL Rookie of the Week award. His first game was a sign of what the Florida man had to do and he finished his first regular season with 73 receptions and 9 touchdowns. He also received 1,008 yards.
Unfortunately, Kelvin Benjamin was unable to follow his first season’s exploits after tearing his ACL during a training session during the 2015 pre-season. This ruled him out for the entire season. His return to the game in 2016 was not as explosive as his first season, he could only record seven touchdowns, 63 receptions for 941 yards. Kelvin was traded to the Buffalo Bills for the 2017 season. He played in 6 games in his first season with the Bills and finished with one touchdown, 16 receptions for 217 yards.
Injury and career statistics
Kelvin has suffered two serious injuries since the start of his NFL career. He suffered an ACL injury which ruled him out of the 2015 season. In 2017, he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and was out for two weeks.
Despite his injury struggles, Kelvin has managed to post strong NFL career stats, and with his injury struggles behind him, there’s still a lot to see from the wide receiver.
His career stats so far are 19 touchdowns, 184 for 2,641 regular season yards. In the playoffs, he had two touchdowns and 12 catches for 117 yards.
Height, weight and body measurements
As a wide receiver, his body size is a big factor in his performance. Kelvin Benjamin is 6ft 5in tall and weighs 111kg. His other measurements call him an arm length of 35 inches and a hand of 10 inches.