| Free Agent | |
| Quarterback | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: January 4, 1985 | |
| Place of birth: Kenton, Ohio | |
| High School: Kenton High School | |
| Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | Weight: 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Wake Forest/Cincinnati | |
| Undrafted in 2008 | |
| Debuted in 2010 for the Cincinnati Commandos | |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| TD–INT | 56–14 |
| Passing yards | 1,826 |
| QB Rating | 108.7 |
Gary Benjamin "Ben" Mauk (born January 4, 1985 in Kenton, Ohio) is an American football quarterback who was most recently the quarterback for the Cincinnati Commandos of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), and with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He completed his college football career in 2007 for the Cincinnati Bearcats. He attended high school at Kenton High School where he set national passing records as a senior. He then went on to play at Wake Forest, and then later transferred to Cincinnati at the conclusion of the 2006 season.
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Mauk led the Kenton Wildcats to consecutive Ohio Division IV championships in 2001 and 2002. At the completion of his senior season, Ben gained national recognition by winning the 2002 Ohio Mr. Football Award, 2002 Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year and the 2002 Art Tuion Award Winner.
During his high school career, Mauk became one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in Ohio High School Athletics Association history.
National records:
Total Yards, Career 1st, 19,628 1999-2002 (17,364 passing, 2,264 rushing)
Total Yards, Season 1st, 7,928 2002 (6,540 passing, 1,388 rushing) 2nd, 6,727 2001 (5,770 passing, 957 rushing)
Total Yards, Per Game 1st, 528.5 2002 (7,928/15) 2nd, 448.5 2001 (6,727/15) 5th, 395.5 2000 (3,955/10)
Passing yards per game 1st, 436.0ypg (2002) 4th, 384.7ypg (2001)
Most Passing Attempts, Career 1st, 1,905 (1999–2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Season 1st, 674 (2001) 2nd, 669 (2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Per Game 4th, 44.9 2001 (674/15) 5th, 44.6 2002 (669/15)
Most Completions, Career 2nd, 1,095 (1999–2002)
Most Completions, Season 2nd, 413 (2002) 3rd, 369 (2001)
Most Completions, Per Game 3rd, 27.5 (2002) 9th, 24.6 (2001)
TD Passes, Career 2nd, 178 (1999–2002)
TD Passes, Season 2nd, 76 (2002) 12th, 60 (2001)
Passing Yards, Career 1st, 17,364 (1999–2002)
Passing Yards, Season 1st, 6,540 (2002) 2nd, 5,770 (2001) 57th, 3,936 (2000)
He was redshirted his first season, in 2003. In 2004, Ben played in ten games, while starting three. Against Clemson University, on his first collegiate snap, he set the record for longest touchdown pass in Wake history, at 85 yards. He led the Deacons to a 4-7 overall record and was named to The Sporting News's ACC All-Freshman Team. In 2005, he played in ten games, and started seven; the Deacons had another 4-7 season.
In 2006, Mauk suffered a catastrophic injury to his right (throwing) arm in the first game against Syracuse. Mauk attempted to recover a fumble in the third quarter when two Orange players fell on the arm. He suffered a fractured humerus, a dislocated shoulder, and a torn labrum. Shortly after the injury, he underwent reconstructive surgery in which surgeons put a titanium plate with eight screws in his upper arm and installed three anchors in the shoulder.[1] The Deacons, with redshirt freshman Riley Skinner taking over for Mauk, would go on to finish 11-3, winning their first ACC Championship Game, and on to the school's first BCS game in the Orange Bowl, in which the Deacons would lose to the Louisville Cardinals.
Because of Mauk's reconstructive surgery, it was doubtful that Wake Forest would let Mauk compete for playing time at Wake in 2007. He decided to take advantage of an NCAA rule, since rescinded, that allowed graduate students with remaining athletic eligibility to transfer and become immediately eligible.[1] Mauk chose the University of Cincinnati primarily because it was close to his hometown and new coach Brian Kelly was installing a spread offense similar to the one he ran in high school. The major question was whether his arm would improve enough to allow him to play.[2] For his part, Kelly was not sure whether Mauk could come back; he had the Bearcats' medical team contact the physicians who performed Mauk's surgery, and required that he pass a physical examination with emphasis on the throwing arm. Ultimately, Kelly decided to bring Mauk in, figuring that if nothing else, Mauk could serve as a mentor for the Bearcats' younger quarterbacks who would have to adjust to the spread offense.[1]
Mauk, who was named the starting quarterback over junior Dustin Grutza, was trying to lead the Bearcats to their first winning season in the Big East. The Bearcats jumped out ahead early, winning all five non-conference games. They then entered Big East play, with Mauk leading them to victories over Syracuse, UConn, USF, and Rutgers. Mauk and the Bearcats finished with a 10-3 overall record, capping their season and Mauk's college career with a 31-21 win over Southern Miss in the 2007 PapaJohn's.com Bowl in which Mauk threw for 334 yards and 4 TD's, becoming the game's MVP. This gave the Bearcats their first 10-win season since 1951, and virtually assured them a spot in the season-ending national rankings for the first time ever.[3]
Mauk, called by his Cincinnati teammates the "Bionic Man" due to the various metallic objects installed in his arm, proved to be an inspiration to them. Bearcats safety Haruki Nakamura said about Mauk, "The first time I saw the scar, I was like: 'What is that? Did you get a shark bite?' For someone to endure that sort of pain is unbelievable. To do what he's done this year is great. He's definitely become an impact player on this team."[2]
Mauk tried to gain one more year of eligibility for the 2008 season. However, he was turned down by the NCAA. Mauk appealed his case a final time via teleconference; on September 3, 2008 he learned that had been denied[4]
On September 9, 2008, Hardin County Judge William Hart refused to grant a permanent injunction against the NCAA that would have allowed Ben Mauk to rejoin the Bearcats.[5]
In September 2008, Mauk signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.[6] He was released in October following an injury.[7]
Mauk was the quarterback for Cincinnati's indoor football team, the Cincinnati Commandos. In his first season with the team (2010), he started 9 regular season games and threw for 52 touchdowns and 1631 yards, both league highs, capturing the CIFL MVP and CIFL Championship Game MVP awards as the Commandos went 11-1 and won the league championship. In his 2nd season, he played in just 2 games, completing 10 of 17 passes for 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.[8] During his 2nd game, he was ejected for an illegal hit after throwing an interception. As a result, Mauk was suspended by the league for 2 games.
Mauk was invited to try out with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2011. He left the team for medical reasons and was released on February 23.[9]