GREEN BAY, WI – Former UNI defensive back Benny Sapp III has been signed by the Green Bay Packers as a free agent, as announced by the team on Monday afternoon following the conclusion of this past weekend’s NFL Draft in Kansas City.
Sapp, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the first UNI defensive back to sign with an NFL team since Elijah Campbell inked a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
A two-time First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) defender, Sapp led the league with four interceptions in 2022 during his senior season with one forced fumble. Serving as a captain last season, Sapp recorded 54 tackles for UNI and was named to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list, while also accepting an invitation to the play in the 2023 Hula Bowl.
Sapp transferred to UNI for the spring 2021 season from Minnesota, where he received multiple All-American honors from the AFCA, the Associated Press (AP) and STATS Perform. He also earned several all-conference honors during his three seasons with the Panthers, including Phil Steele’s FCS All-MVFC First Team recognition, and The Bluebloods First Team All-MVFC.
During UNI’s 2023 Pro Day on March 20 inside the UNI-Dome, Sapp recorded a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump, along with a vertical leap of 35 ½ inches, the best among participating UNI defenders, as well as a 6.84-second time in the three-cone drill.
This past February, Sapp was also selected in the USFL Draft with the 27th overall pick by the Memphis Showboats.
Sapp is the son of Benjamin and Erica Sapp, and brother of Benjamin, Briyana, Baylee and Belle. His father, Benjamin Sapp Jr., who spent time as an assistant coach with UNI this past season, played for the Panthers before an eight-year playing career in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs (2004-07), Minnesota Vikings (2008-09, 2011) and Miami Dolphins (2010-11).
