Built Different: Ben Florentine’s Journey from Pandemic-Era Walk-On to D-Line Anchor
- Jeff Bugher
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
LARAMIE, Wyo. – When Big Ben Florentine first arrived at the University of Wyoming, there wasn’t a representative from the athletic department to greet him, no hotel room full of fancy graphics and snacks. No official visit. No scholarship ceremony. Just a determined teenager from Anaheim, California, who packed up his car with his family, drove more than 1,000 miles, and took a campus tour - as a regular student.
“I actually drove from California to here just to take the student tour and check out the campus,” Florentine recalled. “I didn’t even get an unofficial or an official or any of that… but I knew the Mountain West would be a good fit for me.”
Now, heading into his senior season, the 6-foot-1, 280-pound nose tackle known as “Mustard Gas” is a key figure in Wyoming’s defensive
A Name That Sticks
Florentine’s unique nickname, Mustard Gas, has raised more than a few eyebrows amongst those around him. He credits former head coach Craig Bohl for the moniker, although the origin remains a mystery to everyone.
“My nickname is Mustard Gas, and that started with OG Coach Bohl, so it’s managed to stick around,” he said. “At first, I really didn’t even know what it meant. Then I looked it up and it was like a gas used in World War I...”
The name may be unconventional, but it fits a player known for his toughness and disruptive presence in the trenches.
A Long Road from Servite to Laramie
Florentine’s journey to Division I football was anything but typical, yet it’s a story that we’ve heard from many athletes who tried to get recruited around 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed Florentine’s senior season at Servite High School to the following March, which hurt and limited his recruiting opportunities and exposure to college programs.
“Our season didn’t even start until March, and we only had six games,” Florentine explained. “By the time I got my film out and sent it out to all the schools I was interested in, they were all like, ‘Yo, dude, our rosters are full.’”
Florentine kept pushing with the same effort he puts on the field. “I sent all my film to all the coaches here at the time,” he said. Eventually, former offensive line coach Derek Frazier [most recently an assistant offensive line coach with the Cincinnati Bengals until March 2025] called and offered him a walk-on spot.
“So here we are,” he said with a smile.
Carrying the Torch
Florentine now wears No. 94 - a number he inherited from former Cowboy standout nose tackle Cole Godbout. It’s a jersey he wears with pride.
“I love that guy,” he said of Godbout. “He showed me the ropes - really, what it meant to be here. I knew I wanted number 94 after Cole left… and now I wear that number proudly.”
Florentine also points to Jordan Bertagnole as a key mentor who shaped his playing style and leadership.
Leading Through Action
Florentine is one of the most veteran leaders on the defensive line, where he embraces his leadership role - by showing.
“I think the main way is through example,” he said. “Even no matter how I’m feeling, I know I gotta give it my all to show these younger guys what the right way to practice is. It’s a big responsibility… but I love the role.”
Chasing Growth in 2025
Florentine’s goal this offseason is clear: develop into a more consistent pass rusher.
“This year I want to be able to find those two to three moves that I can just be relentless at and be a relentless pass rusher,” he said. “That’s my main focus right now.”
Life After Football
Outside of football, Florentine is studying construction management. While he doesn’t have a concrete post-football plan yet, he’s open to where life takes him.
“I think somewhere in the construction world down the line is probably where I’ll end up,” he said. “But right now, this is my main focus.”
From a walk-on to a battle-tested senior, Ben Florentine’s Wyoming story is one of persistence, pride in the work he does, and Cowboy Tough... with just a hint of Mustard Gas.
Florentine has appeared in 25 career games on Wyoming’s defensive line, steadily progressing each season. As a freshman in 2022, he saw limited action in just two games, recording 1 solo tackle.
In 2023, Florentine became a regular part of the rotation, playing in 12 games and totaling 11 tackles (7 solo, 4 assisted).
That leap came in 2024, when the junior posted 25 total tackles (10 solo, 15 assisted), 3 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and his first career pass breakup over 11 games
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