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Malena is probably my favorite UDFA that we signed this year. He is shifty and tough as nails. I really like the contrast he provides to the longer, more straight-line Murray.
Here is a good read on him from 12th Man Magazine.
BIG BEN
Upon returning to Texas A&M as part of Kevin Sumlin's coaching staff, Director of Football Sports Performance Larry Jackson says he instantly noticed something quite distinctive about hard-nosed, rock-solid running back Ben Malena. In fact, Jackson says that, although he couldn't immediately put his finger on exactly what made Malena so unique, there was something about the Cedar Hill High School product that was downright captivating.
It wasn't just his freakish strength and explosiveness in the weight room. It was more than his relentless work ethic, too. Malena possessed an "it" factor, leading others and setting a standard without saying a word. Even under extreme physical duress, Malena displayed an unflappable presence and an unwavering sense of poise that many of his teammates could simply not match.
No matter how hard Jackson pushed the A&M players through their workouts—and he was often unmerciful in administering muscle misery—Malena seemed unfazed and undaunted. While many of his teammates battled to regain their breath and refrain from losing their previous meal into a trash can during workouts, Malena typically smiled while others anguished, indicating that he could handle anything that Jackson conceived.
"He impressed me right away," Jackson recalled. "It didn't seem like the workouts were doing too much to him. I think I'm pretty good at what I do, but Ben was smashing (the workouts). And he was acting like a leader while he was working out. But I had not seen him play football, so I wasn't sure if he was just a weight-room warrior or not. I wanted to see if he could be that same kind of leader once the games started in a big-boy league like the SEC. That's what separates the men from the boys."
Once the games started, it didn't take long for Malena to once again distinguish himself as a man on a mission. Midway through the second quarter of the first SEC game in A&M history, Malena took a handoff from Johnny Manziel and burst up the middle of the Florida defense for an eight-yard gain inside the Gators' five-yard-line.
Before the play was whistled dead, there was an audible, violent collision that could be heard—and maybe felt—by most of the 87,115 fans in attendance that day at Kyle Field.
Florida safety Josh Evans, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in April 2013, filled the hole and was later credited with a partial tackle. But it was Malena who delivered the thunderous impact and all the punishment on the play, slamming into Evans with the destructive force of a wrecking ball demolishing a dilapidated concrete wall. Fortunately, the 6-foot-1, 207-pound Florida safety was not seriously injured, but after writhing in pain and rolling on the field, he did leave the game after being leveled by the 5-foot-8, 195-pound Malena.
Clearly, a message had been delivered. And received. And witnessed on national television.
The Aggies were not merely joining the SEC to escape the backstabbing shenanigans of the Big 12. They were bringing Texas toughness to the Deep South. And they were immediately intent on being one of the prominent players in the most potent, powerful and physical football conference in America.
Malena delivered that impactful message on one unforgettable play, and he did it with a sense of purpose and authority.
READ THE REST: http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/membership/12th-man-magazine-articles/big-ben.aspx
Here is his hit on Evans
Here is a good read on him from 12th Man Magazine.
BIG BEN
Upon returning to Texas A&M as part of Kevin Sumlin's coaching staff, Director of Football Sports Performance Larry Jackson says he instantly noticed something quite distinctive about hard-nosed, rock-solid running back Ben Malena. In fact, Jackson says that, although he couldn't immediately put his finger on exactly what made Malena so unique, there was something about the Cedar Hill High School product that was downright captivating.
It wasn't just his freakish strength and explosiveness in the weight room. It was more than his relentless work ethic, too. Malena possessed an "it" factor, leading others and setting a standard without saying a word. Even under extreme physical duress, Malena displayed an unflappable presence and an unwavering sense of poise that many of his teammates could simply not match.
No matter how hard Jackson pushed the A&M players through their workouts—and he was often unmerciful in administering muscle misery—Malena seemed unfazed and undaunted. While many of his teammates battled to regain their breath and refrain from losing their previous meal into a trash can during workouts, Malena typically smiled while others anguished, indicating that he could handle anything that Jackson conceived.
"He impressed me right away," Jackson recalled. "It didn't seem like the workouts were doing too much to him. I think I'm pretty good at what I do, but Ben was smashing (the workouts). And he was acting like a leader while he was working out. But I had not seen him play football, so I wasn't sure if he was just a weight-room warrior or not. I wanted to see if he could be that same kind of leader once the games started in a big-boy league like the SEC. That's what separates the men from the boys."
Once the games started, it didn't take long for Malena to once again distinguish himself as a man on a mission. Midway through the second quarter of the first SEC game in A&M history, Malena took a handoff from Johnny Manziel and burst up the middle of the Florida defense for an eight-yard gain inside the Gators' five-yard-line.
Before the play was whistled dead, there was an audible, violent collision that could be heard—and maybe felt—by most of the 87,115 fans in attendance that day at Kyle Field.
Florida safety Josh Evans, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in April 2013, filled the hole and was later credited with a partial tackle. But it was Malena who delivered the thunderous impact and all the punishment on the play, slamming into Evans with the destructive force of a wrecking ball demolishing a dilapidated concrete wall. Fortunately, the 6-foot-1, 207-pound Florida safety was not seriously injured, but after writhing in pain and rolling on the field, he did leave the game after being leveled by the 5-foot-8, 195-pound Malena.
Clearly, a message had been delivered. And received. And witnessed on national television.
The Aggies were not merely joining the SEC to escape the backstabbing shenanigans of the Big 12. They were bringing Texas toughness to the Deep South. And they were immediately intent on being one of the prominent players in the most potent, powerful and physical football conference in America.
Malena delivered that impactful message on one unforgettable play, and he did it with a sense of purpose and authority.
READ THE REST: http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/membership/12th-man-magazine-articles/big-ben.aspx
Here is his hit on Evans
but they did prove they were somewhat above that by not rushing Escobar; even having Hanna initially fill his role. There really isn't enough contract money or vets to earn that "accommodation." Mo getting benched for OScan is another example that supports your point.
