Pro Career:
Originally drafted by the Broncos in the fifth-round (157th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft, was waived/injured by Denver on 8/26/03. Signed to the Buccaneers practice squad on 12/16/03 and signed a futures contract with Tampa Bay on 12/29/03. Allocated to NFL Europe where he played for the Berlin Thunder. After spending training camp with the Buccaneers, was released on 9/5/04 and spent the ’04 season out of football. Signed a futures contract with the Steelers on 2/3/05 and was allocated to NFL Europe, where he again played for Berlin. After spending training camp with the Steelers, was released on 9/3/05. Signed with Atlanta on 9/12/05 and appeared in two games for the Falcons during the ’05 season. Waived by Atlanta on 8/28/06. Signed an exclusive rights tender with the Falcons on 3/19/07 before being waived on 5/2/07. Claimed off waivers by the Raiders on 5/3/07 and was released on 8/14/07. Spent 2007 out of football before signing with the Seahawks on 8/4/08 as a free agent. Released by Seattle on 8/30/08 and signed to the Lions practice squad on 9/8/08 where he spent the remainder of the season. Signed a futures contract with the Cardinals on 2/4/09 and re-signed a one-year contract with Arizona on 3/12/10.
2010: Inactive for all 16 games of the regular season.
2009: Appeared in one game for the Cardinals … did not play in the first four games of the season … saw first action as a Cardinal in relief of Lyle Sendlein with Arizona up 27-3 late in the fourth quarter @ Sea (10/18); marked first game played since 1/1/06 as a member of the Falcons … DNP in the next 11 games … DNP in the Wild Card playoff game vs. GB (1/10/10) or in the Divisional game @ NO (1/16/10).
2008: Spent season on Lions practice squad after being signed on 9/8.
2005: Appeared in two games with the Falcons (11/24 @ Det), (1/1/06 vs. Car) and was inactive for 14 games.
College:
Played in 44 games with 37 starts for Mississippi … second-team All-SEC selection as a senior after starting 12 of 13 games … nominated for the Rimington Award, given annually to the top center in college football … started all 12 games as a junior, earning second team All-SEC honors as part of an offensive line that allowed just 10 sacks on the season, the lowest total in the conference … started two of the eight games he appeared in as a sophomore, missing significant time due to an ankle fracture.
Personal:
Full name Ben Zachariah Claxton … first team All-State AAA selection as a senior at Dublin (GA) High School … selected to play in the Georgia-Florida High School all-star game in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome … earned honorable mention All-State as a junior … helped lead Dublin to a 13-2 record and the 1994 North Georgia Class AAA title … earned two letters in wrestling and placed second in the Georgia 3-AAA wrestling finals … has a twin brother, Jon, who was a reserve RB and teammate at the University of Mississippi.
