Florida State fans who followed Trey Benson’s rise with the Seminoles learned Monday that the former star running back has been waived by the Arizona Cardinals.
Benson, selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft by Arizona, leaves the Cardinals after two injury-plagued seasons that never fully matched the explosive production he delivered in Tallahassee.
Seminole supporters had high hopes when the Cardinals took him 66th overall, viewing the move as validation of the talent that helped power Florida State’s offense during his two standout years.
In 2022, after transferring from Oregon, Benson rushed for 990 yards and nine touchdowns while earning second-team All-ACC honors. The following season he added 906 rushing yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns, again collecting second-team All-ACC recognition and cementing his status as one of the ACC’s top backs.
Over those two campaigns with the Seminoles he totaled 1,896 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging better than six yards per carry and showing the burst and vision that excited scouts.
His athletic testing, highlighted by a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, only reinforced the belief among Florida State faithful that he was destined for a significant professional role.
Benson’s NFL path proved far more difficult. As a rookie in 2024 he appeared in 13 games for Arizona, rushing 63 times for 291 yards and one touchdown while catching six passes for 59 yards. An ankle injury forced him onto injured reserve near the end of that season.
In 2025 he began as the primary backup to James Conner. When Conner went down with a season-ending injury in Week 3, Benson stepped forward and produced early.
A meniscus injury suffered in Week 4 against Seattle required arthroscopic surgery and limited him to just four games. He finished with 160 rushing yards on 29 carries and 13 receptions for 64 yards.
A setback during his recovery attempt kept him from returning that year.
Entering 2026 the Cardinals added free-agent Tyler Allgeier and drafted Jeremiyah Love, crowding the backfield. Benson dealt with continued knee issues during training camp and was limited in practices.
On Monday the team waived/injured the 24-year-old, ending his time in Arizona. Career NFL totals stand at 451 rushing yards and one touchdown on 92 carries, plus 19 receptions for 123 yards in 17 games.
For Seminoles fans the news marks another chapter in a journey that began with promise in Tallahassee and has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries dating back to a significant knee problem at Oregon that cost him the 2020 season.
Many supporters still point to the production and athleticism Benson showed while wearing garnet and gold as evidence he can contribute elsewhere if he regains full health. He now enters the waiver process, where teams seeking running-back depth could claim him.
Florida State followers who tracked his every college carry will continue monitoring whether the former Seminole can find a fresh start and finally stay on the field long enough to showcase the skills that once made him a standout in the ACC.
