| Ben Banogu | |
| Position: | Defensive end |
| Birth Date: | 19 January 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 3 |
| Weight Lb: | 252 |
| High School: | Prosper (Prosper, Texas) |
| College: | UL Monroe (2014–2015) TCU (2016–2018) |
| Draftyear: | 2019 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 49 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Highlights: | |
| Statlabel1: | Total tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 29 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statvalue2: | 2.5 |
| Statlabel3: | Pass deflections |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Interceptions |
| Statlabel5: | Forced fumbles |
| Statvalue5: | 1 |
| Pfr: | BanoBe00 |
Benjamin Chinomso Banogu (born January 19, 1996) is a Nigerian professional American football defensive end. He played college football at Louisiana-Monroe and TCU.
Born in Nigeria, Banogu's family moved to U.S. six months after his birth.[1] He grew up in McKinney, Texas attended nearby Prosper High School, where he played football and basketball for the Eagles, in addition to participating in track & field. On February 4, 2014, Banogu signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe on a football scholarship.[2]
Banogu redshirted during his first season at ULM, but became a starter for the Warhawks as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He recorded 5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss to earn a spot on the All-Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team, but chose to leave the program after the season.[3]
After transferring to Texas Christian University in January 2016, Banogu sat out the 2016 season and forfeited his sophomore year of eligibility due to NCAA transfer rules. He became a starter for the Horned Frogs as a junior in 2017, totalling 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, earning First-team All-Big 12 honors[4] and helping lead the Frogs to the program's first-ever berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and a win in the 2017 Alamo Bowl over Stanford.[5]
Banogu scored his first collegiate touchdown during his senior season on a 47-yard return of a fumble recovery in a home win against Iowa State in September 2018.[6] He ended the season with 8.5 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss to once again be named First-team All-Big 12,[7] and helped lead the Frogs to a win over California in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.[8]
Following his senior season, Banogu graduated from TCU and was invited to participate in the 2019 Senior Bowl as a linebacker.[9]
Banogu was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (49th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[10] During the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, Banogu recorded a half-sack in his first-career game.[11] During the Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos, Banogu sealed the 15-13 victory with his 4th-quarter strip-sack of Joe Flacco, both career-firsts.[12] In Week 12 against the Houston Texans, he brought down Deshaun Watson for a sack.[13]
On June 7, 2023, Banogu signed with the Dallas Cowboys.[14] He was released on August 29, 2023.[15]