Ben Banogu

Benjamin Chinomso Banogu, born on January 19, 1996, is an esteemed Nigerian professional American football player who has walked a long path in his career and achieved an impressive status as a defensive end. Born in Nigeria, he moved to the United States with his family just six months after his birth and grew up in McKinney, Texas. Having evolved into a free agent, he shows no sign of slowing down in an already illustrious career.

During his childhood, the local Prosper High School witnessed Banogu’s budding athleticism. Here, he didn’t limit himself to playing football but also showcased his versatile sportsmanship playing basketball and participating in track and field besides football. His performances on the gridiron for the Eagles established him as a standout athlete. As his final year in high school rolled around, he signed a letter of intent for a football scholarship on February 4, 2014, to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM).

At ULM, Banogu redshirted his first season but quickly ascended to a starter spot for the Warhawks in 2015. His first season was laudatory as he recorded a formidable five sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses. This performance earned him a coveted position on the All-Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team. Despite this recognition, he decided to leave ULM after one season.

In January 2016, amidst a significant change in his career path, Banogu transferred to Texas Christian University (TCU). Due to NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out for the 2016 season and forfeit his sophomore year of eligibility. Yet, his upward career trajectory continued at TCU where he became a starter in 2017, his junior year. He again impressed with his performance, recording 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. Through his efforts, he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors and was pivotal in securing TCU’s first-ever berth in the Big 12 Championship Game. This also led to them achieving a win in the 2017 Alamo Bowl against Stanford.

Banogu’s senior season was glittered with a significant milestone when he scored his first collegiate touchdown. This happened during a thrilling 47-yard return of a fumble recovery against Iowa State in September 2018. He closed out his last collegiate year with another 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, meriting his second First-team All-Big 12 label. Banogu’s stints brought another feather in TCU’s cap as the team claimed a win over California in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.

Post the successful completion of his senior season, Banogu graduated from TCU. Soon after, he received an invitation to participate in the 2019 Senior Bowl as a linebacker. His prowess in college sports was recognized at a larger platform when he was drafted in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2019 NFL draft.

As his professional career began, Banogu became an essential part of the Indianapolis Colts. He had a promising start, recording a half-sack in his debut game against the Los Angeles Chargers. His defining moment came in Week 8 when he sealed the Colts’ 15-13 victory with his 4th-quarter strip-sack of Joe Flacco. Undoubtedly, his career marked a significant impact, especially when he brought down Deshaun Watson for a sack during Week 12 against the Houston Texans.

Later, Banogu’s journey took a new direction when he signed with the Dallas Cowboys on June 7, 2023. However, his tenure with the Cowboys was a brief one as he was released on August 29, 2023. Despite this, Banogu continues to exhibit a strong tenacity and remains an intriguing prospect in the evolving landscape of American Football.