WVU football: Al-Rasheed Benton caps off fine career

The WVU football team had its fair share of struggles this season. It all came to a whirlwind finale in a disappointing loss to Utah in the bowl game.

Nobody was more disappointed than linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton. The senior linebacker has been a leader on and off the field. He led by examples in many ways and gave it his all in each game.

Benton really took to heart what this team means to the fans and the 1.8 million residents of the state of West Virginia. He grew a lot in his upperclassmen years and it would have been nice to usher him off with a victory to cap off his career as a Mountaineer.

But, Benton seems like the kind of guy who will be a Mountaineer for life. He will embrace the old gold and blue for the rest of his life like other former WVU football standouts on the defensive side of the ball like Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin.

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Benton wants to be in broadcasting and there may be some career opportunities for him in and around Morgantown in the coming years. Former quarterback Rasheed Marshall is doing that now and performing admirably in his role as an analyst for Metronews. With Benton having experience in the game, he should be given a look on radio and television stations.

He already received a nice opportunity from another former WVU football player, Anthony Becht. He got some face time on ESPN prior to a game this season. It will be interesting to follow the career of someone who wanted to be a Mountaineer since he set foot on campus five years ago.

During the bowl game against Utah, Benton was shaken up on a play early in the second half. It looked as if he wouldn’t return because he was on the ground for quite some time. He eventually walked off the field on his own and was back in the game a few plays later. That’s the kind of guts and determination he had during his time with the WVU football team.

Benton had eight total tackles in his final game to finish with 110 this season. He was in on a big sack in the second half that looked like it would give momentum back to the Mountaineers. That didn’t happen, though, and West Virginia continued its struggles. One bright spot of the game would be the play of Benton. Even though the defense was torched on the ground by Utah, the defense held tough and was just presented with bad situations by the offense and special team.

Next: 30 best games in WVU football history

The WVU football team doesn’t lose that many starters to graduation for next season. But the loss of Benton will definitely hurt the most.