Ben Gardner Class: RS Senior Hometown: Mequon, WI High School: Homestead Height / Weight: 6-4 / 275 Position: DE

2012 (SENIOR) :Started all 14 games at defensive end and helped lead one of the nation's top defenses...tied for second on the team in both TFL (14.5) and sacks (7.5), each ranked top-60 in the nation...led an inspired Stanford defensive performance that held No.2 USC to 26 yards rushing and Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley without a passing touchdown...among career-high six total tackles vs. USC, recorded 3.5 TFL and a quarterback sack to lead the overall defensive effort of 12.0 TFL and four sacks...had two solo tackles, recovered a fumble, and made a sack / forced fumble which Chase Thomas recovered for a touchdown at Notre Dame...notched four tackles and one eight-yard sack at UCLA...made four tackles, one sack and one pass breakup vs. Oregon State...recorded five tackles (two solo) and 2.5 TFL - including 1.5 sacks - against Washington State...had five tackles and 1.5 TFL at California in the Big Game... recorded two tackles - including a five-yard sack - and two pass deflections in overtime win vs. Arizona...earned All-Pac-12 second team and Pac-12 All-Academic second team honors.

2011 (JUNIOR): Second team All-Pac-12 Conference selection...was also named the team's Deswarte-Eller Award winner honoring the team's most outstanding (redshirt) sophomore...started 12 of 13 games at defensive end and finished with 35 tackles, including 10.0 for loss (47) and 4.5 sacks (35)...tied for 13^th in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss per game and tied for 16^th in sacks per game...part of a formidable pass rushing unit that recorded 39 sacks on the year...had a season-high five tackles against Cal in the Big Game, including a sack...credited with four tackles against Colorado and Oregon...had a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss at Arizona....forced a fumble at Washington State...blocked a point-after attempt at Oregon State following a Beaver touchdown in the third period...credited with one tackle in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma State.

2010 (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in 11 games to earn his first varsity letter...saw most of his time on special teams and as a reserve defensive end...finished the year with three tackles...credited with a solo stop against Wake Forest and assisted stops against Washington and California.

2009 (FRESHMAN): Did not see action.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis. ...played for head coach Dave Keel...Associated Press first team all-state selection following his senior year...also was a first team All-North Shore Conference selection and was named the conference's defensive player of the year...first team WFCA all-state selection...totaled 70 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, six sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks as a senior...had 55 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior...helped Mequon to Division I state championship as a senior after runner-up state finishes as a sophomore and junior...also lettered in golf...parents are Carl and Kim Gardner...one of four children...born in Portland, Ore. ...full name is Benjamin D. Gardner...majoring in science, technology and society (development, science & technology).

CAREER STATISTICS

Career Highs
Tackles:5 vs. California, 2011
Tackles for Loss:2.5 at Arizona, 2011
Sacks:1.0, four times; last vs. Notre Dame, 2011
Interceptions: None