2023 NFL draft: 10 biggest defensive standouts from 2023 East-West Shrine & Senior Bowl weeks

#4. Jeremy Banks, Tennessee (Linebacker)

Tennessee v Florida

A name I was vaguely familiar with, but hadn’t studied yet is this fifth-year senior from Tennessee. Jeremy Banks would’ve probably been higher on my watch list based on his 2021 stats, when he recorded 128 total tackles, 11.5 of them for loss, 5.5 sacks, an interception and four PBUs.

This past season, the majority of those numbers were more than cut in half and based on consensus boards, he’s on the fringe of even being drafted. If Banks has a solid combine, he may be moving closer to an early day three prospect.

What really perked me up was watching him in coverage. During one-on-ones with the running backs, Banks displayed some impressive burst when driving on option routes, where they could break either way. He would regularly just squat on guys and still affect the catch point once he exploded forward as they made their cut.

Banks was one of like two guys that could pick up and run with Fresno State back Jordan Mims in team drills as well. He did a nice job identifying dig routes and deep crossers coming in behind him during seven-on-sevens and full team drills.

Plus, you saw him redirect in a hurry after floating one way initially and then having to race down on the back catching a checkdown. He had a very impressive snap in coverage on day two against a tight end (Michigan State’s Daniel Barker). He turned with him down the seam and got a paw between that guy’s hands to bat the ball up for the safety behind him to pluck for the interception.

In team run drills, I thought Banks showed great lateral agility to trail runners from the backside and flatten behind blockers when he saw an opening. He has a pair of quick hands and jumps sideways to get to the other side of linemen looking to pin him away from the action.

On the play-side, he was very quick to fill before somebody could combo off to him. When did have to deal with guys climbing up, Banks pulled them off himself to get hands on the ball-carrier. This was something that happened on multiple occasions. A couple of times he blew through the outside shoulder of the fullback before that guy could even get to the line of scrimmage, to create disruption in the backfield.

Banks also had a few nice moments in the game, side-stepping blockers and once putting a huge hit on UCLA back Kaz Allen in the hole. During protection drills, you saw the former Vol LB charge full-force into running backs in blitz pick-up a few times, plus then he was slippery once he used his hands to slither around them.