When Deonte “Tae” Banks was about 11 years previous, he’d spend his Sundays operating up a hill, coaching on his days off from youth soccer follow. On Friday, his twenty second birthday — March third, or 3/3, which is why he wears jersey No. 3 — Banks ran on a flatter floor however a grander stage as he ready for the way he’ll spend his Sundays this fall.
The 6-foot, 197-pound Banks dashed 40 yards in entrance of scores of professional scouts in Lucas Oil Stadium on the NFL scouting mix, unofficially clocking it in a speedy 4.36 seconds as he seeks to offer another excuse, in an extended checklist, why he needs to be a first-round decide in subsequent month’s draft.
Banks, a cornerback, graduated from Edgewood High School and went on to face out on the University of Maryland. However, in 2021, he suffered the hardest setback in his younger profession when he injured his shoulder, prematurely ending his junior season and inserting his profession on maintain. He bounced again in an enormous approach with a productive senior yr; when focused, he allowed opponents to finish solely 43% of their passes, per Pro Football Focus.
This yr’s class of cornerback prospects is stuffed with expertise. Ravens coach John Harbaugh estimated there are 10 gamers on the place who might be picked within the first two rounds.
“It’s loaded,” he mentioned. “And they’re all great players, they’re all potential starters, first-year starters.”
Banks is amongst that group, and there’s an opportunity he might be picked by the Ravens, who is perhaps in want of a cornerback. That could be a “dream come true,” mentioned Banks, a Baltimore native.
Before he was an honorable point out All-Big Ten Conference decide in 2022 and a three-star recruit out of highschool, Banks was a child who relished soccer sufficient that he’d usually ask his mother and father to take him to a close-by hill so he may dash up it.
“He’s just one of those special kids, man,” his father, Jamal Banks, mentioned this week. “He never ceases to amaze you.”
His mom, Laura Banks, remembered that Banks made the educational honor roll nearly each semester of faculty, whereas additionally obsessing over bettering on the sector.
“He was always trying to be the best at everything he did,” she mentioned.
The preliminary purpose was to play in school, which Banks did by staying in state and signing with the Terps. His consideration then shifted to the professional ranks, however that was derailed by the shoulder harm throughout a sport towards Howard in early September 2021. Soon after, he realized he’d want surgical procedure and that he could be sidelined for months.
“That was such a sad day,” Laura Banks mentioned.
“He literally broke down,” his father mentioned.
The painful prognosis was difficult for the fun-loving Banks, who counts dancing amongst his favourite hobbies. As he was compelled to patiently recuperate, his mother and father tried to buoy his spirits. His father repeated to him that it was a minor setback and he was getting ready for a serious comeback.
That comeback got here this previous season when, practically a yr after the harm, Banks returned to motion. He excelled for the Terps, who gained eight video games for the primary time in a decade, and rocketed up draft boards. After a standout mix efficiency that included a 42-inch vertical leap and an 11-foot, 4-inch broad leap — elite marks for his place — he’ll probably be picked in both the primary or second spherical.
“I’m a positive guy. I come with a lot of energy. And I’m a lockdown corner,” Banks mentioned this week in Indianapolis, answering what he desires NFL groups to find out about him. “I physically impose my will on people, all game.”
Fellow Maryland defensive again Jakorian Bennett additionally participated within the NFL mix — operating an unofficial 4.31 within the 40-yard sprint — and he described Banks as loud, energetic and at all times laughing.
“Deonte, I’ve never seen him have a down day,” Bennett mentioned.
Banks is the crown jewel of this yr’s Terps draft class, which is among the greatest in class historical past. The document for Maryland gamers picked in a seven-round draft is 5 (2004 and 2009), however seven Terps had been invited to this yr’s mix. Banks is predicted to be the primary one to listen to his title referred to as in April.
“I feel like he’s one of the best corners in this draft,” Maryland huge receiver Dontay Demus Jr. mentioned.
Some mock drafts challenge Banks as excessive as No. 23 total whereas others see him as being picked at No. 60 or later.
Regardless, Banks can have ascended to the head of the game. He’s prone to spend Sundays this fall operating in lockstep with NFL receivers, slightly than sprinting up hills.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com