Ben Nowland
Encyclopedia
Ben Nowland,born May 27, 1980 in Jacksonville, Florida
is an American football
offensive lineman with the Georgia Force
of the Arena Football League.
in St. Augustine, Florida and was a student and a letterman in football, wrestling, and track & field. In football, he was a three-year starter. In wrestling, he won a Regional Championship as a senior. In track&field, he was a Regional Champion in the shot put and the discus.
with Auburn
. Nowland was a first team All SEC center in 2002 (Coaches, AP Poll, and Sporting News). He was a top 10 finisher for the Rimington Award which is presented to the Nations best center. Nowland participated in the 2003 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. and was awarded with their Sportsmanship Award for the event. Nowland started 35 games in his career at Auburn.
Nowland won several awards while playing at Auburn; Most Improved Offensive Lineman, Who’s Who Auburn University, Cliff Hare Award Recipient 2003 (Auburn Male Student Athlete of the Year), First Team All-Southeastern Conference 2002 (Coaches poll, AP poll, and Sporting News), Academic All-SEC 2001 & 2002, Sports Illustrated All-Bowl Team 2003, Finalist for the Remington Award, given annually to the best college football Center, The Pat Dye Leadership Award Winner 2002, Participant in the 2003 Senior Bowl, Recipient of Senior Bowl Sportsmanship Award, Academic All SEC 2001 and 2002, BIND, Industrial Design, 1998 — 2001 Auburn, Masters, Industrial Design, 2006 — 2007 Auburn.
• Other notes of interest: Nowland and his “Big Brother” (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) Terry J. Cusack (Founder and CEO, STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc. www.stellarfundraising.com) have been “matched” since Nowland was 10-years old. Nowland and Cusack were selected by BBBS as one of the organizations 100 Greatest Matches, and were featured in the BBBS 100 Anniversary book, "Big Moments, Little Magic.” Terry Cusack and his wife, Marleen, named the second son, Benjamin Cole Cusack, namesake for Cusack’s “Little Brother" Ben Nowland. Nowland is married to his college girlfriend Hillary. Nowland was in the Walt Disney film "The Game Plan" starring Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson. Upon retiring from football in 2009, Nowland began a career as a Sales Representative for Atley Pharmaceuticals and Nowland and his wife live near Auburn, AL. Nowland’s wife Hillary works for Auburn University.
by signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers
in 2003. Waived by the 49ers in August of that year, he was signed to the Washington Redskins
' practice squad where he stayed through the 2004 season
. In 2003 and 2004 Nowland spent time with the Frankfurt Galaxy
in NFL Europa. In 2005, he was signed by the Denver Broncos
. He began his AFL career with the Georgia Force
in 2005. He joined the Rampage in 2006. He Resigned with the Georgia Force during the 2007 offseason.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
is an American football
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...
offensive lineman with the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
of the Arena Football League.
High school years
He attended Allen D. Nease Senior High SchoolAllen D. Nease Senior High School
Allen D. Nease High School is a public high school in the St. Johns County School District, located in Ponte Vedra, Florida that was established in 1981. The school is a member of the International Baccalaureate program. The principal is Mr...
in St. Augustine, Florida and was a student and a letterman in football, wrestling, and track & field. In football, he was a three-year starter. In wrestling, he won a Regional Championship as a senior. In track&field, he was a Regional Champion in the shot put and the discus.
College
Nowland played collegiatelyCollege 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...
with Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
. Nowland was a first team All SEC center in 2002 (Coaches, AP Poll, and Sporting News). He was a top 10 finisher for the Rimington Award which is presented to the Nations best center. Nowland participated in the 2003 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. and was awarded with their Sportsmanship Award for the event. Nowland started 35 games in his career at Auburn.
Nowland won several awards while playing at Auburn; Most Improved Offensive Lineman, Who’s Who Auburn University, Cliff Hare Award Recipient 2003 (Auburn Male Student Athlete of the Year), First Team All-Southeastern Conference 2002 (Coaches poll, AP poll, and Sporting News), Academic All-SEC 2001 & 2002, Sports Illustrated All-Bowl Team 2003, Finalist for the Remington Award, given annually to the best college football Center, The Pat Dye Leadership Award Winner 2002, Participant in the 2003 Senior Bowl, Recipient of Senior Bowl Sportsmanship Award, Academic All SEC 2001 and 2002, BIND, Industrial Design, 1998 — 2001 Auburn, Masters, Industrial Design, 2006 — 2007 Auburn.
• Other notes of interest: Nowland and his “Big Brother” (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) Terry J. Cusack (Founder and CEO, STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc. www.stellarfundraising.com) have been “matched” since Nowland was 10-years old. Nowland and Cusack were selected by BBBS as one of the organizations 100 Greatest Matches, and were featured in the BBBS 100 Anniversary book, "Big Moments, Little Magic.” Terry Cusack and his wife, Marleen, named the second son, Benjamin Cole Cusack, namesake for Cusack’s “Little Brother" Ben Nowland. Nowland is married to his college girlfriend Hillary. Nowland was in the Walt Disney film "The Game Plan" starring Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson. Upon retiring from football in 2009, Nowland began a career as a Sales Representative for Atley Pharmaceuticals and Nowland and his wife live near Auburn, AL. Nowland’s wife Hillary works for Auburn University.
Professional
He entered the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
by signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 2003. Waived by the 49ers in August of that year, he was signed to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
' practice squad where he stayed through the 2004 season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
. In 2003 and 2004 Nowland spent time with the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
in NFL Europa. In 2005, he was signed by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He began his AFL career with the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
in 2005. He joined the Rampage in 2006. He Resigned with the Georgia Force during the 2007 offseason.