The running back died in Austin Sunday morning after a motorcycle accident, according to ESPN.
Cedric Benson killed in motorcycle accident
Social media posts expressing condolences began flowing in, notably from Tom Herman, the current coach at UT, and former Longhorn coach Mack Brown.
Benson made a name for himself during his college career with the Longhorns. He finished at UT with 5,540 rushing yards, which is second in Longhorns program history.
He was also given the Doak Walker award during his senior year at UT, which goes to the nation's top running back.
Sam Bassett was Benson's attorney and released a statement.
Benson was the 4th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals.
After a deadly bombing in Austin last year, Benson helped restore the home of the victim's family.