AMES, Ia. — When the Iowa State football team’s practice ended on Aug. 29, Cyclones coach Matt Campbell gathered his team for a special presentation. Standing in front of the entire team was late Cyclones defensive ends coach Curtis Bray’s wife Heather, daughter Sydney and son Colden, who was clutching a cardinal colored jersey.

But this wasn’t a normal Iowa State jersey. This Iowa State jersey has special meaning to the Bray family and the entire Cyclones football program. This Iowa State jersey had the number 58 on it — the number Colden's father wore during his playing days at Pittsburgh. Ever since Bray passed away from a pulmonary embolism in 2014, Iowa State players had been passing it on from one defensive lineman to another as a way to honor him.

Now it was Spencer Benton’s turn to wear it.

So, following practice that day, Campbell called on Benton to be formally presented with his new number. Colden stood just a few feet in front of his mother and sister, who both watched along with the entire Iowa State football program.

Benton walked up to Colden, accepted the jersey, and the two shook hands.

“It was just a really cool moment,” Benton said.

Four years after Bray passed away, his legacy lives on through this special tradition. Thanks to some of Bray’s former players and Campbell, a coach that never knew or worked with him, he’ll always be remembered at Iowa State.

“I think it’s an opportunity to honor somebody that made a great impact on the program — that stood for what’s right in the game of football,” Campbell said.

'I think it's really important that we continue his legacy'

It all began back in 2014 when then-Iowa State defensive end Cory Morrissey decided to honor Bray during his senior season. Morrissey, who was close to Bray, decided to wear 58, a number the coach wore during his playing days at Pittsburgh from 1988 to 1992.

When Morrissey graduated, he passed the number on to Mitchell Meyers, who had battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Meyers wore it for two seasons before passing it on to J.D. Waggoner, the last remaining tie to Bray in the Iowa State locker room.

Waggonor was the last player to know or play for Bray. But before Waggoner graduated from Iowa State, he talked to Campbell about the tradition staying alive. Waggoner not only wanted to keep it going that season, but after he left.

“J.D. just said, ‘Coach, I think it’s really important that we continue his legacy,’” Campbell recalled.

PREVIOUSLY:

It was an easy decision for Campbell, who had played briefly at Pittsburgh and had heard about Bray. Campbell had also heard from his friend Lou Ayeni, who was working on the Iowa State staff when Bray died.

When Campbell came to Iowa State, some of the staff looped him in about the tradition. He also quickly realized how big of an impact Bray had on the players.

“(When they talked) about the coaches that had impacted their lives, he was the No. 1 coach still in the program that every kid had said positive things about in the impact that he had in their lives,” Campbell said.

After Waggoner graduated, Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed spoke to his players about carrying on the tradition. The group agreed that they wanted to.

Rasheed decided that he’d pick the player to wear 58. The biggest requirement was that the Cyclones wanted someone who displayed the same sort of character that Bray had. Iowa State director of player personnel Derek Hoodjer, who had worked with Bray, knew exactly what to look for.

“He certainly is looking for someone who embodies exactly what coach Bray was — selfless, hardworking, concerned for their teammates — really all the positive things that everyone is looking to be and wants to emulate — that’s really what he was,” Hoodjer said.

'I was about ready to sign up for intramural sports'

Selfless, hardworking and concerned for teammates. Those were the things Rasheed was looking for in a player to wear 58 for 2018. Benton was the perfect choice. The Van Meter native had all those characteristics, especially the hardworking part.

Benton, who only drew interest from two NAIA schools out of high school, decided to try to walk on to the Iowa State football team like his brother Marcus had. After going to a tryout in 2014, Benton figured he hadn’t made the team when he hadn’t heard from anyone for three weeks.

“I was about ready to sign up for intramural sports,” Benton said. “I was looking at it doing some homework in my dorm and all of a sudden I got a call from (Iowa State staff) Mitch Moore and he was like, ‘Hey, do you think you could come in tomorrow? We’ll get you fitted for pads.’”

Benton redshirted his first season in 2014 and didn’t get any real playing time until 2016. Some playing time opened up when Waggoner coincidentally went down with a season-ending injury. Benton played in 12 games and recorded 21 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The opportunity he had made the most of opened up a lot of eyes.

During the 2017 season, Benton played in all 13 games, recording 11 tackles.

His hard work, rising from walk-on to contributor, didn’t go unnoticed. Before the 2018 season started, Benton was placed on scholarship.

“When I was on the scout team, whenever I first started, the other walk-ons used to joke with me, “Yea, one day you’re going to be playing, blah, blah,’ because they used to joke that I was the one that had a chance. I always played it off.”

They were right, though. Through three games, he’s already become a key reserve for the Cyclones' defensive line. Iowa State defensive coordinator/safeties coach Jon Heacock said he loves having senior leaders like Benton on his team.

“Really, you can’t have enough of them,” Heacock said. “Anytime you can get veterans in your program, seniors that have been there and been through it and work like he works, all those kind of things, it’s a real plus."

'I feel like he represents everything that coach Bray went for'

If anyone knows how big of an honor it is to wear Bray’s number, it’s Benton. Even though Benton didn’t play for Bray, he’s got a good sense of what type of coach he was. Benton’s brother Marcus played for him.

“It’s really special seeing him (wear it),” Marcus Benton said. “I feel like he represents everything that coach Bray went for.”

From talking to his brother and some of his old teammates, Spencer Benton said he understands the honor. That’s why it was easy for him to give up his No. 46 to wear No. 58.

“It’s a great tradition obviously and the guys who talked about coach Bray before me that I’ve played with just said how great of a man he was,” Benton said. “It’s just a great tradition to be able to carry on and represent him.”

Bray’s legacy lives on through more than just the jersey.

When Campbell came to Iowa State, he made sure the team’s doors stayed opened to the Bray family. Heather, Syndey and Colden are regulars at games. Colden also frequently visits practice. Campbell said that Colden has even built a friendship with Iowa State star running back David Montgomery.

“It means a lot to pretty much everyone that knew them that they’re still involved,” Hoodjer said. “It means a lot that they feel welcomed. It means a lot that they want to be involved.

"I think everyone that knew coach Bray is excited that his legacy is continuing to live on. I think everyone who knew him knows it deserves to live on.”