More about Ben: Ben is a devout Mormon, he interrupted his college football career to spend two years as a missionary in Las Vegas for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also the first white player to start at quarterback for his historically black college and its 97-year-old football program....completed 477 of 764 passes in three seasons at FAMU
Projects as a second day draft pick

Position: Quarterback
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 215
DOB:
Hometown: Elma, WA
Previous Schools: N.Iowa JC
Iowa State

My name is Ben Dougherty and I was the starting quarterback for Florida A&M University the past two seasons. I deal with most of the same pressures, privileges, and activities that football players deal with across the United States who attend a school that loves their football. I am the average student/athlete and my life seems pretty ordinary to me. To others it seems anything but ordinary. You see Florida A&M is if not the biggest, one of the biggest HBCU's (Historically Black College/University) in the country (over 14,000 students, I think).

I am a white boy from a small logging town in Washington State who had only one black person in my entire graduating class. And I mean I'm white. Just ask my teammates. They have tried many many times to try and teach me to dance but with dancing, practice does not make perfect. I simply have no rhythm. Only a couple still have faith in me that I can still get it. Anyways, my situation really does not seem one bit weird or odd to me any longer.

After my 1st or 2nd week here at school I felt at home. To others from the outside looking in it is anything but normal. I've been shopping at a store or walking around campus, or the mall on several occasions and been stopped and asked by people (black

and white) in one way or another, "Do you really like FAMU? Be honest with me. I see you on the news and read in the paper how much you love being at FAMU. Do you really feel that way? Please tell me the truth."

My answer never changes, YES, I REALLY LOVE FAMU. I have never been treated with so much love by teammates, classmates, and teachers at any school I have ever attended. That includes an almost all white Iowa State University (I attended there out of high school for one year on a football scholarship).

I was invited to the National Football League's scouting combine at the end of this month in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is not just any tryout though. This is the one that you dream of getting invited to as a little kid. About 2% of college football seniors who are eligible for the NFL draft get invited to the combine. I feel extremely honored to be included in that group. I really wanted to get some help in thanking the FAMU fans that are literally scattered all across the country. We play in several Classic games each year that have more fans than most Division I schools ever see. Over 70,000 African-American fans flock to these games. Fans come from all over the country to watch these classic games. I also wanted to publicly thank my teammates for everything over the past few years. I have so many hilarious stories about my experiences here on campus and throughout town with teammates and classmates that people are brought to tears laughing. My experience has been an amazing one. I have had a few people say someone could make a ton of money doing a movie on my story.

No one from Florida A&M has been invited to the combine for almost 10 years and I want to thank my teammates for helping me get there. They have been such a support to me. Some of them seemed happier for me than I did. They continue to call or come over and tell me that I better ball out at the combine for them and to show those boys what FAMU football is all about. I promise them that I will. I would love to get across to my teammates, coaches, and fans how grateful I was and am for their support. Sure there were some fans not happy simply because FAMU had a white QB but that was probably less than 1% of the people. I respected those peoples opinions though when I would meet them. Some had choice words for me but that was OK. One of the biggest things I have learned here is that if you show others with respect in most cases you will get it back. I had heard that a lot before, but I have seen it with my own eyes here. I could go on forever with stories about teammates and fans loyalty and support of me. Dan Parrish my starting 6'7 350 lb. offensive tackle was not supposed to play in the last game of the season. He didn't practice during the week and the doctor recommended he didn't play. He came up to me and said before that game that nothing was going to keep him off the field for my last game with him. He started that game and gave everything he had. He couldn't finish the game and has since had surgery on that knee but I will never forget that.

Strengths: Has great size...Has deceptive mobility and will run a little... Performed well despite not having the most talented supporting cast...Was extremely productive at his level.
Weaknesses: Did not always play against top competition and stuggled against the likes of Virginia Tech in 2004...Has a solid arm but it isn't special...May have been a big fish in a small pond.
Notes: Transferred from Iowa St...Had a great overall career and may be a better prospect than Casey Printers, another former Rattler signal caller