Essex Hornet Quarterback, Samuel Bent, was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame within the Vermont Chapter. The ceremony was held at Castleton University on Sunday, May 3rd.
Bent has been involved in the Hornet Football Community since he was eligible for youth programs. He claims the community is like no other and expresses his appreciation for the sport.
“Football has taught me so much about life, about sacrifice and leadership. It has taught me hard work, building off of failure, and discipline,” Bent said. “I am very grateful for the opportunities I had to play football.”
However, Bent believes he didn’t climb to where he is alone. He credits a lot of his success to those around him.
“Coach Curtis always did his best to put our team and me in a position to succeed. I also credit the seniors on the squad with me this year; they motivated me, and together we made our last ride unforgettable.”
Head Football Coach, Ethan Curtis, does not leave the appreciation one-sided; he feels incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach Samuel.
“While Sam has never been someone focused on statistics or personal recognition, the reality is that he had an outstanding varsity career and currently ranks among the top quarterbacks to ever play at Essex,” Curtis said. “More importantly, though, his impact goes far beyond numbers. The leadership, humility, toughness, and care he showed toward others are what truly set him apart.”
The Hornets ended the season with a 5-4 record, and though the season didn’t end with a championship win, Bent wouldn’t have wanted his experience to go any other way.
“One of my favorite memories from football is the first 2 plays against Middlebury in our home opener this year,” Bent said. “Our whole squad had been waiting all summer to finally play again, and we got out to an unforgettable start. On the first play of the game, Ayden Clark recovered a fumble deep in Midd territory. Then, on the first offensive play of the year, I threw a touchdown to Cooper McCurley. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.”
In the fall, Bent plans to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, to study Business and Marketing.
