Age: 29
(Sept. 25)
7th
season in pro football, 6th with Rams
College: Arkansas
Height: 6’3” Weight: 195
Prelude:
A star
receiver at Arkansas, where he caught 48 passes for 814 yards as a senior in
1937, Benton was chosen by the Rams in the second round of the 1938 NFL draft.
His 19.9-yard average on 21 catches as a rookie led the league and he topped
the NFL with seven TDs among his 27 receptions in ’39, when he was a
second-team All-NFL choice and selected to the Pro All-Star Game (predecessor
to the Pro Bowl). Benton took a year off in 1941 to coach high school football
in his native Arkansas, but he rejoined the team in ’42. Due to the Rams
suspending play for a year in 1943, Benton played for the Chicago Bears and, while
his numbers dropped off, he was a key receiver in clutch situations for the NFL
title-winning club. He rejoined the Rams in ’44 and achieved new personal highs
with 39 catches for 505 yards.
1945 Season Summary
Appeared in 9
of 10 games
[Bracketed numbers
indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 45
[2]
Most
receptions, game – 10 (for 303 yds.) at Detroit 11/22
Yards – 1067
[1]
Most yards,
game – 303 (on 10 catches) at Detroit 11/22
Average gain
– 23.7 [3]
TDs – 8 [3]
300-yard receiving
games – 1
100-yard
receiving games – 5
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 3
Yards – 16
Average per
return – 5.3
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 10 yards
Scoring
TDs – 8 [5,
tied with Ted Fritsch & Fred Gehrke]
Points – 48 [7,
tied with Fred Gehrke]
Postseason: 1
G (NFL Championship vs. Washington)
Pass
receptions – 9
Pass
receiving yards – 125
Average yards
per reception – 13.9
Pass
receiving TDs – 1
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, Chicago Herald-American, Pro Football Illustrated, NY Daily
News
2nd
team All-NFL: INS, UPI
Rams went 9-1
to finish first in the NFL Western Division while leading the league in rushing
yards (1714). Won NFL Championship over Washington Redskins (15-14).
Aftermath:
With the
franchise moving from Cleveland to Los Angeles, Benton followed up his
outstanding 1945 season by leading the NFL in both pass receptions (63) as well
as receiving yards (981) in ’46. He was again a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection. Benton played one more season for the Rams in 1947, catching 35
passes for 511 yards (14.6 avg.) and six TDs. Overall, over nine seasons he
caught 288 passes for 4801 yards (16.7 avg.) and 45 touchdowns, with all but 13
receptions, 235 yards, and three TDs occurring while with the Rams. Benton was
a consensus first-team All-NFL selection twice and received at least some
second-team honors following two other seasons. He was chosen to the NFL All-1940s
team selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the Arkansas Sports
Hall of Fame. Benton’s NFL single-game record of 303 pass receiving yards
lasted until 1985.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions,
Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
