Colts’ player of the game vs. Vikings: DE Ben Banogu
No story is better to read than a redemption story, and so far during Indianapolis Colts training camp and preseason we’ve seen just that with defensive end Ben Banogu.
Banogu has been praised as a consistent pass rusher all camp long, as it seems not one practice goes by without Banogu being credited with at least one if not multiple sacks. He has also carried this play over to the preseason dress rehearsal against the Minnesota Vikings.
While the full magnitude of his impact on this game may not be done justice by the stat sheet, he made his presence felt early and often. This is why he’s been chosen as our player of the game.
Officially, Banogu was credited with two tackles, a quarterback hit, and one tackle for a loss on the night seemingly affecting every snap rushing the quarterback, and was a big reason for Minnesota’s struggles to really move the ball at all in the second half.
A second-round pick in 2019, he got his career off to a pretty rough start. While only managing 2.5 sacks the last two seasons, all coming in 2019, Banogu found himself inactive half the year last season and labeled a bust by many.
Banogu responded to this criticism by training with All-Pro DeForest Buckner in the off-season, and coming into Colts training camp this year a completely different player.
Should he continue to show this ability to pressure the passing attack, and build upon the impressive effort and hustle that jumps out on tape he should be in line for some major snaps this upcoming season.
This is all the more an impressive feat to be sure considering the wealth of talent surrounding him on this Colts defensive line. Banogu may still have a ways to go, but he has more than earned the excitement fans have about him as we get closer to regular season football this fall.
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Colts defeat Vikings, 12-10, in preseason Week 2
