Grand Junction Area Football Star Playing in the Super Bowl

The city of Grand Junction will be represented at this year's Super Bowl when a former area football star takes the field with the Atlanta Falcons.

Ben Garland is a graduate of Central High School where he lettered four years for the Warriors in football, and one in basketball. Garland went on to play college ball for the Air Force Falcons.

The Denver Broncos signed Garland as an undrafted free agent in 2010, and in 2014 he was the Broncos' Walter Peyton Man of the Year award winner. He was released by the Broncos in 2015 and that same week was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.

Garland switched from defense to offense in 2013, but with the Falcons has played 51 defensive snaps, 48 offensive snaps, and 181 snaps on special teams. He's sort of been a jack-of-all-trades. In this year's NFC Divisional Playoff, Garland sacked Seattle quarterback Russell Willson for his first career safety.

So if you are watching the big game on Sunday, be on the lookout for #63 of the Atlanta Falcons and when you see him on the field give a good shout out for Grand Junction. He'll be hard to miss. Garland is listed on the Falcons' roster at 6-5 308 pounds.

Not that I needed one, but now I have yet another reason for hoping the Falcons beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Go get 'em, Ben!

[WIKIPEDIA]