By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tim Benford was making big marks in the Tennessee Tech record book before his senior campaign, but the Golden Eagle wide receiver saved the best for last.
A Preseason All-OVC pick that season, he backed that up with 65 catches for 925 yards and the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award with the 925 yards then standing as a single-season Tech record (which held until Dontez Byrd beat it twice with 933 yards in 2016 and 1,003 yards in 2017 to become Tech's only 1,000-yard receiver in program history). The yardage total was also the best in the conference that season.
He is one of five inductees into the 49th class of the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame. Along with Benford, Tristan Archer (baseball, 2010-13), Bruce Hatfield (football, 1984-87), Dr. M. Dianne Murphy (women's basketball/volleyball/women's tennis/supporter, 1969-present), and Beth Underhill (women's golf, 2002-06) will be inducted during the annual Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Roaden University Center's Multipurpose Room. Tickets for the dinner are on sale by calling (931) 372-3940, visiting the Eblen Center ticket office, or by visiting TTUsports.com.
Benford helped lead the Golden Eagles to the 2011 OVC championship as Tech defeated Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State on their home fields to force a three-way tie at the top and the Golden Eagles won the tiebreaker for their 10th OVC championship. He was named an All-American by The Sports Network and Phil Steele's Football both in 2010 and 2011.
In his career, Benford continues to be the Tech career leader in receptions with 216 and receiving yardage with 3,097 yards. He ranks 10th all-time in all-purpose yardage with 3,116 yards. Benford still ranks fifth in the OVC career marks in receptions and receiving yards. He also has the most 100-yard receiving games with 10, including a career-best 177 yards against Southeast Missouri in 2010. He also has two 70-plus yard touchdown catches – a 72-yarder from Tre Lamb against UT Martin and a 71-yarder from Lamb against Maryville, both in the 2011 campaign.
Following his senior campaign, Benford went to the NFL Combine and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.
Benford won Tech football's premier honor – the Robert Hill Johnson Award – three times, joining Larry Shipp and Larry Schreiber as the only three Golden Eagles to perform the feat. He was also named the OVC Freshman of the Year in 2008 and was a three-time All-OVC first-team selection from 2009 to 2011 with an All-Newcomer nod in 2008.
He was also named Tech Athletics' Male Athlete of the Year in 2012.
The four-year Golden Eagle star was included in both the Tennessee Tech Football 100th Anniversary Team as well as the Ohio Valley Conference's 75th Anniversary Team.
Benford came back and finished his degree from Tech in May 2023.
