| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1956-04-07)April 7, 1956 (age 69) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 192 lb (87 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arkansas |
| NFL draft | 1979: 4th round, 94th overall pick |
| Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
Ben Cowins (born April 7, 1956) is an American former professionalfootball player who was arunning back for theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He playedcollege football for theArkansas Razorbacks from 1975 to 1978.
Cowins played alongsideRon Calcagni,Chicago Bears greatDan Hampton and record-setting kickerSteve Little, and was the University of Arkansas' all-time leader inrushing attempts (635), rushing yards (3,570), rushing touchdowns (30) and 100-yard rushing games (16), all of which were later surpassed byDarren McFadden. Cowins helped Arkansas to a win over theUniversity of Georgia in theCotton Bowl. However, he was suspended by head coachLou Holtz for team violations stemming from an on-campus incident prior to the1978 Orange Bowl victory overOklahoma.[1][permanent dead link] In the Razorbacks' decisive 31–6 victory, backup running backRoland Sales set an Orange Bowl record of 205 rushing yards, a mark that stood for two decades. Cowins later played during a 10–10 tie in theFiesta Bowl againstUCLA.
During Cowins' tenure, the Razorbacks went 10–2 in 1975, 5–5–1 in 1976, 11–1 in 1977 and 9–2–1 in 1978.[2]
Cowins was a fourth-round pick (94th overall) in the1979 NFL draft by thePhiladelphia Eagles[1] but was then signed by theKansas City Chiefs.[2] Despite his success in college, he was released by the Chiefs after only one season,[citation needed] and he played in three games in the1980 season for theCanadian Football League'sToronto Argonauts. He rushed 28 times for 144 yards and a touchdown as well as five receptions for an additional 33 yards. After his career ended he opened a successful brokerage company in his hometown of St. Louis.[3]