Marcus Benard life and biography

Marcus Benard is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Jackson State. Benard was promoted from the Browns practice squad to the active roster on November 9, 2009.

Originally signed by Cleveland as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2009; Waived by Cleveland on September 6, 2009; Signed to Cleveland's practice squad on September 9, 2009; Signed to Cleveland's active roster on November 9, 2009; Re-signed by Cleveland on March 17, 2010;

Elevated to the 53-man active roster on November 9 after spending the first nine weeks of the season on the Browns’ practice squad… Played in six games in a reserve role and tallied 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks on defense, and three stops on special teams. Game 1 vs. Minnesota 9/13: On practice squad…Game 2 at Denver 9/20: On practice squad…Game 3 at Baltimore 9/27: On practice squad…Game 4 vs. Cincinnati 10/4: On practice squad…Game 5 at Buffalo 10/11: On practice squad…… Game 6 at Pittsburgh 10/18: On practice squad…Game 7 vs. Green Bay 10/25: On practice squad…Game 8 at Chicago 11/1: On practice squad… Game 9 vs. Baltimore 11/16: Made his NFL regular season debut and notched three tackles… Game 10 at Detroit 11/22: Did not have any stats in action primarily on special teams… Game 11 at Cincinnati 11/29: Was inactive… Game 12 vs. San Diego 12/6: Was inactive… Game 13 vs. Pittsburgh 12/10: In a reserve role, registered three tackles and a pair of sacks, the first Browns rookie to have two sacks in a game since Kamerion Wimbley on December 24, 2006 against Tampa Bay… Both of Benard’s sacks came on third down… Game 14 at Kansas City 12/20: On defense was credited with one quarterback hit while he recorded one tackle on special teams… Game 15 vs. Oakland 12/27: Lone tackle on defense was a 10-yard sack of Charlie Frye on the Raiders’ final offensive play of the game… Added two stops on special teams… Game 16 vs. Jacksonville 1/3: Produced four tackles, including a half-sack that he shared with Kaluka Maiava, on second-and-10 from the Browns’ 49 with 20 seconds to play in the first half.

College Highlights
Key member of defensive unit at Jackson State (2007-08), earning All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors as a senior...Logged 80 tackles along with 16 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 2008...Saw action in all 12 games as a junior, racking up 45 tackles and nine sacks...Had 33 tackles and nine sacks in five games for Grand Rapids Community College in 2006 and 43 tackles and 12 sacks in 2005...Earned his associates degree from Grand Rapids and majored in criminal justice at Jackson State.

Personal
Born in Adrian, Mich...Played tight end at Ypsilanti (Mich.) High...Named to the All-District team and to Seniors of America List...Named to the Dean's List...Plays the piano, organ, guitar, drums and saxophone...Played in his high school band...Lists Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as favorite television show, Mr. Brooks as favorite movie, Wild Things as favorite book and Lil' Wayne as favorite recording artist...Has two sons, Domanic and Marcus Jr.

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