Hartford, Conn.----Wingate University offensive lineman Ben Benshoof (Huntersville, N.C.) was drafted by the Hartford Colonials in the 10th round of the 2010 United Football League Player Draft last week. In April, Benshoof participated in a try-out during the N.Y. Giants rookie mini-camp. A 6-6, 315-pound lineman, Benshoof is a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School.

In 2009, Benshoof was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference performer. He played in the East Coast Bowl Football Game. Selected players from NCAA Division I-FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA schools on the East Coast competed in the ninth annual event Saturday, Nov. 28 at historic Cameron Field in Petersburg, Va. In addition to the East Coast Bowl, Benshoof participated in Wake Forest University’s Pro Day on March 26.

An offensive captain and three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Benshoof and his teammates helped Wingate average 395.3 total offense yards per game last season. Thanks to the efforts of Benshoof and his offensive line mates, Wingate running back Vince Jordan (Mt. Gilead, N.C.) rushed for 967 yards in 2009, third on the SAC charts.

In 2008, Benshoof helped Wingate place second in the SAC (and ninth in the NCAA) in passing offense with 238.4 yards per game. Benshoof blocked for running back Nelson Woods (Charlotte, N.C.) as Woods eclipsed the 1000-yard plateau in 2008 and 2007. Woods rushed for 1238 yards on 248 carries in 2008. Woods rushed 232 times for 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007. 

Wingate had three active professional players during the 2009 season. Defensive back David Jones (Bengals) and linebacker Kenwin Cummings (N.Y. Jets) helped their teams reach the most recent NFL play-offs. Defensive end John Bowman plays for the 2009 Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. 

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.