{"id":42153,"date":"2018-04-15T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=42153"},"modified":"2021-03-20T12:56:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T16:56:43","slug":"kurt-benkert-2018-nfl-draft-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/04\/15\/kurt-benkert-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Kurt Benkert 2018 NFL Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview
\nPosition<\/strong>: Quarterback
\nHeight<\/strong>: 6’4″
\nWeight<\/strong>: 215 pounds
\nSchool<\/strong>: Virginia Cavaliers<\/p>\n

Combine Performance Data
\n40-yard dash<\/strong>: 4.95 seconds
\nBench press<\/strong>: 16 reps
\nVertical jump<\/strong>: 31 inches (fourth among quarterbacks)
\nBroad jump<\/strong>: 9 feet, 4 inches
\nThree-cone drill<\/strong>: 7.15 seconds
\n20-yard shuttle<\/strong>: 4.33 seconds<\/p>\n

Kurt Benkert 2018 NFL Draft Profile<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Kurt Benkert<\/a><\/strong>‘s family moved to Cape Coral, FL ahead of him entering the third grade. He eventually became a standout quarterback in high school, throwing for 2,261 yards and 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions at Island Coast High as a senior. Benkert originally committed to East Carolina, attracting the eye of current Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley<\/strong> who was the Pirates’ offensive coordinator at the time.<\/p>\n

Benkert completed just eight passes as a redshirt freshman in 2014 with senior\u00a0Shane Carden<\/a><\/strong> the incumbent starter. All things were pointing towards him taking over the following year. But he suffered a knee injury in preseason camp and missed the entirety of the 2015 season. He subsequently transferred to Virginia after not winning the starting job in the spring of 2016, and was eligible immediately as a grad transfer, having earned his undergraduate degree in three years.<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers program was one in transition when Benkert arrived. Under first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall<\/strong>, the Hoos endured a tough 2-10 season with Benkert’s 21 touchdown passes, 228 completions and 36.9 attempts per game all ranking no worse than 10th among ACC quarterbacks. He followed that up in 2017 with a single-season school record 3,207 yards to go along with 25 touchdown tosses. And only nine players in FBS who eclipsed 3,000 yards passing finished with fewer interceptions than his nine on the year. It helped UVA qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2011.<\/p>\n

Strengths<\/h2>\n