No. 55, 97 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Date of birth: | August 25, 1965 | ||||||||||||
Place of birth: | Birmingham, Alabama | ||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Birmingham (AL) Ensley | ||||||||||||
College: | Alabama | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Games played: | 206 |
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Games started: | 204 |
Tackles: | 1,190 |
Quarterback sacks: | 71.5 |
Interceptions: | 7 |
Player stats at NFL.com |
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett (born August 25, 1965) is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000. Bennett was a five-time Pro Bowler, being elected in 1988, and 1990–1993, and won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award twice (1988 and 1991).
Bennett was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He played halfback and several other positions while attending Ensley High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Bennett was an excellent basketball and baseball player during his high school career. Bennett was an all-state performer his senior year, amassing over 1,000 yards while carrying the ball 101 times. Bennett was nicknamed "Biscuit" by friends because he always had room for one more.
Bennett played for the University of Alabama from 1983–1986. Bennett was a first selection on the College Football All-America Team 3 times (1984–1986). He is one of only two Alabama players to be named to three All-America teams, the other being fellow linebacker Woodrow Lowe. As a senior, he won the Lombardi Award, SEC Player of the Year honors, and finished 7th in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. In his 4 seasons there, Bennett recorded 287 tackles, 21½ sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. His most famous play was in 1986 when he leveled Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein, immortalized in a painting by artist Daniel Moore titled simply, ‘The Sack.’ In 2005, Bennett was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.