Ben Hartsock
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Richard Hartsock (born July 5, 1980) is an American football
tight end
who currently plays for the Carolina Panthers
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Ohio State
.
Hartsock has also played for the Tennessee Titans
, Atlanta Falcons
and the New York Jets
.
in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he caught 86 passes for 1562 yards (18.16 yards per rec. avg.). He also played running back
, placekicker
, and linebacker
. He recorded 61 tackle
s, and 19 quarterback sack
s during his senior season, after switching from linebacker to defensive end. Hartsock was a three-year captain and four-year letter winner. Hartsock committed to play at Ohio State University during his senior year of high school. He attended Ohio State University
from 1999 to 2004 and then was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
.
During his college career, Hartsock started 31 of 51 games. For his career, he had 58 receptions for 519 yards (8.9 yards per reception average). Hartsock recorded 33 catches for 290 yards (2 TDs) in his senior year alone and was a contributor for the 2002 National Championship team that defeated the Miami Hurricanes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
by the Indianapolis Colts. He served as a reserve tight end in his time with the Colts, playing behind Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark.
. He started twelve games, running for 206 yards in two years at tight end for Tennessee. The Titans lost Hartsock to unrestricted free agency in March 2008.
came to an agreement with Hartsock. He was released on September 1, 2009.
on September 2, 2009 to a one year $1.2 million contract. Hartsock recorded his first career touchdown on a two yard pass from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez
against his former team, the Tennessee Titans, in September 2009.
Hartsock was resigned by the team to a two-year contract in March 2010. On March 2, 2011, Hartsock was released by the Jets after spending the past two seasons with the team primarily as a blocker.
on July 27, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who currently plays for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
.
Hartsock has also played for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
He attended Union Scioto High SchoolUnioto High School
Unioto High School is a public high school near Chillicothe, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Union-Scioto Local School District. Their school colors are purple and gold....
in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he caught 86 passes for 1562 yards (18.16 yards per rec. avg.). He also played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He recorded 61 tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s, and 19 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s during his senior season, after switching from linebacker to defensive end. Hartsock was a three-year captain and four-year letter winner. Hartsock committed to play at Ohio State University during his senior year of high school. He attended Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
from 1999 to 2004 and then was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
College career
Hartsock attended the Ohio State University, where he played tight end. He was a three-time Academic All-Big 10 Conference honoree and won CoSIDA Academic All-American honors as a junior.During his college career, Hartsock started 31 of 51 games. For his career, he had 58 receptions for 519 yards (8.9 yards per reception average). Hartsock recorded 33 catches for 290 yards (2 TDs) in his senior year alone and was a contributor for the 2002 National Championship team that defeated the Miami Hurricanes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts
Hartsock was drafted in the 3rd round (68th pick overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
by the Indianapolis Colts. He served as a reserve tight end in his time with the Colts, playing behind Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark.
Tennessee Titans
In 2006, Hartsock signed with the Colts' division rival, the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He started twelve games, running for 206 yards in two years at tight end for Tennessee. The Titans lost Hartsock to unrestricted free agency in March 2008.
Atlanta Falcons
On March 2, 2008, the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
came to an agreement with Hartsock. He was released on September 1, 2009.
New York Jets
Hartsock was signed by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 2, 2009 to a one year $1.2 million contract. Hartsock recorded his first career touchdown on a two yard pass from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
against his former team, the Tennessee Titans, in September 2009.
Hartsock was resigned by the team to a two-year contract in March 2010. On March 2, 2011, Hartsock was released by the Jets after spending the past two seasons with the team primarily as a blocker.
Carolina Panthers
Hartsock signed a two-year contract with the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on July 27, 2011.