Latest news with #CalebBanks
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Florida football defensive lineman Caleb Banks has been named to the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, an honor that recognizes the nation's top defensive player who excels both on and off the field. Banks, a redshirt senior from Detroit, Michigan, is one of 42 student-athletes nationwide selected by the Lott IMPACT Trophy Board of Directors for consideration. The award–named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott–spotlights players who demonstrate Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The Lott IMPACT Trophy winner will be announced in December during a nationally televised ceremony in Newport Beach, California. After transferring to the Florida Gators in 2023, Banks quickly became a force on the Gators' defensive line. In the 2024 season, he recorded 21 total tackles, including seven for loss and 4.5 sacks. Banks' disruptive presence up front earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following a dominant performance against the Ole Miss Rebels, where he notched 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble in Florida's win over the LSU Tigers, finishing the game with a career-high 64 snaps and the top PFF grade of his season. Off the field, Banks is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, underscoring his commitment in the classroom. His leadership, both vocally and by example, has made him a foundational piece of the Gators' defensive identity entering the 2025 season. Originally from Southfield A&T High School in Michigan, Banks joined the Orange and Blue after two seasons with the Louisville Cardinals. He is expected to play a significant role for Florida's defensive front this fall as the Gators look to make some noise in the SEC. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football's Caleb Banks lands in top 5 of CBS Sports' 2026 NFL mock draft
Florida football's Caleb Banks lands in top 5 of CBS Sports' 2026 NFL mock draft Florida football defensive lineman Caleb Banks is drawing national attention as a top NFL prospect, earning the No. 4 overall spot in CBS Sports' early 2026 NFL mock draft released by Josh Edwards. Projected to the New York Jets, Banks is the first defensive tackle off the board in the mock–a clear sign of how much his stock has risen following an impressive 2024 season in Gainesville. The 6-foot-6-inch, 329-pound redshirt senior emerged as one of the SEC's most disruptive interior linemen last fall, finishing with 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery across 10 starts. Banks dominated down the stretch, generating seven quarterback pressures in back-to-back games against the LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels, including a 3.5-tackle-for-loss, 2.5-sack explosion against the Rebels that earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. CBS Sports praised Banks' size, power and ability to "stack and shed", noting his upside as a game-wrecking presence in the middle of an NFL defense. If his 2025 season builds on last year's production, Banks could become Florida's first top-five defensive draft pick since Dante Fowler Jr. when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the third pick in the 2015 NFL draft. For Billy Napier's Gators, Banks' rise is further proof of the staff's success in developing transfer talent–Banks arrived in Gainesville from Louisville ahead of the 2023 season–and adds another name to the program's growing list of early-round NFL hopefuls. Here is everything CBS Sports' Edwards wrote about Banks. What CBS Sports said about Banks "Banks is a taller prospect that throws his weight around. There is a stack and shed element to his game. After recording 4.5 sacks this past season, Banks will need to take his game to another level. The Jets had been linked to defensive tackles leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, but they did not select one this year." CBS Sports' top 5 picks in their 2026 NFL mock draft Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
SI projects Florida football DL Caleb Banks as a first-round pick in 2026 NFL mock draft
SI projects Florida football DL Caleb Banks as a first-round pick in 2026 NFL mock draft It is that time of year when it seems like everyone and their mother are releasing their mocks of the 2026 NFL draft — less than a week after the conclusion of the 2025 edition. Among those casting their dice on an event almost a full calendar year away is Sports Illustrated's Bryan Fischer, whose way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft included one member of the Orange and Blue. That player is defensive lineman Caleb Banks, who spent his first two collegiate seasons with the Louisville Cardinals before transferring to Gainesville for the past pair of campaigns. Funny enough, Fischer projects Banks to be selected with the 17th pick by the Arizona Cardinals next April. "Banks flashed down the stretch last season and with some further polish could turn into a realistic option in the first round, given his size and excellent quickness," he notes. "Pairing him alongside Walter Nolen III could form quite the tandem for the Cardinals." Caleb Banks' 2024 stats with Florida The 6-foot-6-inch, 329-pound rising redshirt senior out of Detroit, Michigan, played in 12 games — making 10 starts — in 2024, recording 21 total tackles, 10 of which were solo. That includes seven tackles for a loss (4.5 as sacks) along with two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble, giving him a 73.0 overall grade on defense, according to PFF. Banks's efforts also earned him the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week award after Florida's Week 13 win over the Ole Miss Rebels. Off the field, he was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in both his seasons as a Gator. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports lists Florida's Caleb Banks among top 11 returning college football players
As the 2025 NFL draft declaration deadline passed, many college football fans and analysts focused on the players ready to leap to the pros. Yet, the story of Caleb Banks, a formidable defensive lineman for the Florida Gators, presents a compelling narrative of loyalty and ambition intertwined with collegiate athletics' evolving landscape. Banks has been a dominant force for the Gators. His performance in the 2024 season—boasting 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss—underscores his pivotal role in fortifying Florida's defensive line. His decision to forgo the draft and return to Gainesville for one more season is a testament to his commitment to the team and his personal development goals. As Banks gears up for another season in the orange and blue, Gator Nation eagerly anticipates what could be a great year. He isn't just playing for draft numbers; he's playing for legacy, team success and the pure love of the game. The 2025 season will undoubtedly be a crucial chapter in Banks' career, and his leadership on and off the field will be key to shaping not just his future, but that of the entire Florida Gators football program. CBS Sports writer Will Backus compiled a list of the top 11 college football players who decided to stay with their schools for one more year. Banks was included in that list and this is what Backus wrote about the defensive lineman. What CBS Sports said about Banks "(Caleb) Banks is part of an impressive core of players returning to Gainesville in 2025, including other standouts like starting center Jake Slaughter. But Banks turned down a strong draft outlook — he likely would have heard his name called within the first few rounds — to run it back with the Gators. He's a disruptive interior presence who finished the 2024 season with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. At almost 6-feet-6 and 325 pounds, he also has ideal size to plug running lanes and hold up in the punishing SEC trenches." CBS Sports' Top 11 college football players who are skipping the NFL Draft and returning for one more year DL Caleb Banks (Florida Gators) QB Carson Beck (Miami Hurricanes) OL Parker Brailsford (Alabama Crimson Tide) DB Tacario Davis (Washington Huskies) EDGE Mikail Kamara (Indiana Hoosiers) QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU Tigers) RB Nicholas Singleton (Penn State Nittany Lions) WR Evan Stewart (Oregon Ducks) LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State Buckeyes) DB Michael Taaffe (Texas Longhorns) WR Antonio Williams (Clemson Tigers) Follow us@GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
