ASU Football: Eno Benjamin is running past milestones

The sophomore running back is stamping his legacy in the Sun Devils record books in his first full season as ASU football‘s feature back.

Records are meant to be broken; even ones that are over a century old.

In 121 season of Arizona State football there has never been a Sun Devil with more than 1,600 rushing yards in a single season.

But next Saturday that mark will be tested by ASU’s first-year starting running back Eno Benjamin, who, with a game to spare, is 76 yards shy from the feat.

For a back who has averaged 127 yards on the ground per game, it’s a mark that is well within reach.

“What separates Eno from most guys is his knowledge of playing the position that he plays,” quarterback Manny Wilkins said. “He’s not just out there breaking school records. He’s out there in protection and understanding when a blitz comes or when the line makes an out-out call that he has to pick up a different (pass rusher).”

Also 42 yards shy of ASU’s single season rushing record held by Woody Green since 1972, Benjamin’s combination of agility and power is second to none.

With the athleticism of Kalen Ballage, the strength of Demario Richard and the vision that neither former ASU running back possessed, Benjamin is perfectly sculpted for a position that was a question mark for the Sun Devils heading into 2018.

“(Benjamin’s) good on first contact,” coach Herm Edwards said. “(He has) great balance, great vision and makes tough yards.”

With N’Keal Harry off to the NFL and Manny Wilkins graduating in May, the Sun Devils offense will be filled with uncertainties next season. But Benjamin’s sophomore status will give ASU an NFL caliber running back while the Sun Devils nurture their next starting quarterback.

“Being a good running back can consist of running the football and getting first downs when you need them,” Wilkins said. “When you’re a great running back, you can catch the ball out of the backfield, you can protect when the quarterback needs you to protect and obviously you can run the football.”

On top of smashing records and running through defenses, Benjamin, along with teammate N’Keal Harry, was named to the Pac-12 All-First team offense leading the conference in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while setting the single season school record for rushing yards during Pac-12 play.

The Sun Devils star running back has broken nearly every ASU single season rushing record. But thankfully, those records were meant to be broken in the first place.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.