MLive is spending the spring checking in on the top 2021 football recruits in Michigan. Each weekday, MLive will feature a new athlete and get updates on their recruitment, goals and more. Today, Southfield A&T lineman Caleb Banks is featured.
MORE: MLive’s top 50 football recruits in Michigan for class of 2021
Bio
Height: 6-6
Weight: 250
Positions: DE and OT
Secondary position: TE
Year: 2021
Rated: 3-star (247Sports composite)
Commitment: Uncommitted
Offers: 30
Fast rise
Banks has had an impressive rise up the recruiting ranks since he first started playing football as a freshman. With one more season of high school football remaining for him, Banks already has 30 offers, including offers.
Banks announced his top 11 schools on April 4, putting Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, Nebraska, Purdue, Louisville, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Arizona State and Indiana on his short list.
He is ranked as the No. 25 recruit in the state of Michigan's 2021 class in both the MLive top 50 recruit rankings and the 247Sports composite. He is also ranked as the No. 77 offensive tackle in the country but he also plays defensive end.
At 6-6, 250 pounds, Banks still has a frame to build on. Yet, he says he makes up for his size with his speed.
"I'm quick," Banks said. "I'm very fast. Some people in my position, they're not as quick. It's kind of a different playing style. A defensive end of my size … I'm more like a toned, more like a skinny or muscular defensive end, the others are like fat ones. I'm quicker off the ball where they're just more power. I've got power too but I'm quick. I can do a quick little move and get back there. It's basically just speed."
Spartans gaining ground
Although Michigan State has only two commits so far in its 2021 class, Banks said the relationship with Michigan State and new head coach Mel Tucker is going well.
Although Banks got an offer from Colorado while Tucker was still coaching there, Banks said he did not speak with Tucker at all during that time. After Tucker decided to take the job at Michigan State after telling boosters he intended to stay at Colorado, Banks
"He's a real cool coach," Banks said. "I don't see nothing wrong with him. He doesn't give me any type of bad vibes. He's real cool."
Banks said his strongest relationship at Michigan State is with seven-year defensive line coach Ron Burton.
"He texts me almost every day," Banks said. "He asks me funny little questions and stuff like that, it's kind of funny. He's real cool too. He's a real good coach and real fun too. He's kind of funny and has a nice personality … communication is going well."
Banks said he is currently aiming toward Michigan State, Kentucky and Arizona State at this point but he admits he is not sure where he wants to go.
Michigan in the mix
In his recruitment with Michigan, Banks said he has been in contact with the school but the extent of recruitment has not been as immersive as other schools yet.
"I've been talking to defensive line coach, coach (Shaun) Nua," Banks said. "That's mainly it, honestly. That's the only coach I've been talking to. I haven't been talking to any other coaches on the staff."
Banks also said he has built a strong relationship with the Arizona State coaching staff as well. In Banks' mind, a good coach plays a big role in his decision making.
"A coach that I feel like will be able to coach me," Banks said. "I just want to be somewhere where I'm just relaxed … I don't know where I'm going to go but I need a good coaching staff that I know that's going to be able to coach me."
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Banks' visits have been put on hold. Moving forward, Banks says he currently intends to shorten his list further and reduce the number of visits he will make.
"It changed a lot actually," Banks said. "For me trying to make my decision, it kind of made it hard for me. I'm just going to take my official visits to my top three or my top four and I'm going to choose from there. I've got to pick my visits and I've got to wait."
He also said he wants to find a school that aligns with his educational goal of becoming a zoologist.
"People get confused when I say that," Banks said. "It's kind of weird to me too but I never thought I'd be into animals. But yeah, I love them."
The best decision of his life
Growing up, Banks admits he never had an interest in playing football. Despite people telling Banks he should give the gridiron a shot, he was all about basketball.
"I never thought I was going to play football," Banks said. "The only reason I ever played football was because my family was like, 'Are serious? You're huge, bro. You should play receiver and just catch the ball.' I'm like, 'What? I don't play that, bro. I'm a basketball player. What are you talking about?'"
Going into high school, Banks finally decided to give football a try for the first time. As it turns out, he was a football player all along.
"That was like the best decision I've made in my life," Banks said. "Without football, I don't know what I'd be doing right now, honestly."
Banks said if he could go back in time and give advice to his freshman self, he would tell himself to learn as much as possible and to always give 100 percent effort.
"Oh, also, you'd get the ladies too," Banks added while chuckling. "That's what I'd stress. You'd get the ladies."
A life-changing moment
In December 2018, Central Michigan was the first school to extend an offer to Banks. He can still easily recall the details of that day. It all started with Banks wondering why he was getting called out of class.
"I'll never forget," Banks said. "They called me out of class -- it was my first time and I wasn't used to it. My head coach called me out of class. When I came in, they were all sitting down and then my recruiting coach (Reggie) Wynns, he was like, 'Come here.'"
Banks could not believe what came next as he was informed of CMU’s offer and how the school was quite serious about getting him to visit as soon as possible.
"I was like, 'Wow, I've got my first offer,'" Banks said. "It's kind of like I got my first scholarship but I'd never seen myself in this type of situation. I always thought I was going to be a basketball player. I never thought football was going to be a way to help me feed my family and stuff like that or going far with it."
As happy as Banks was about the scholarship, he knew it would also mean a lot to his family as well.
"Some of my family members, they didn't make it to college," Banks said. "They didn't have the chance to go to college. I didn't think I was going to go to college but I'm happy that I am."
Staying humble
Banks said he has earned the nickname "Big Time" from friends and teammates. As someone who does not want to come across as arrogant, Banks said he is not the biggest fan of the nickname. However, he can live with it.
"I'm really honored," Banks said of the attention he is getting on the recruiting trail. "I'm kind of speechless actually. There are so many people out there that want what I've got."
Banks has even used his exposure and relationships with various schools to try and advocate for other players trying to get noticed on the recruiting trail. In a way, Banks is a pro bono agent.
“I just try to encourage people to keep going … I just try to help people with it,” Banks said. “When I make my decision, wherever I go, I’ll tell the coaches, ‘I know a player who is really good.’ I just try to use my advantage to help other people.”
Although football is quickly consuming time in Banks’ life, he never gave up basketball and remains a key contributor for Southfield A&T’s varsity squad. However, he has grown quite comfortable with his football future and he has no intentions of taking it for granted.
“I’m really excited to have what I have,” Banks said. “I’m glad, actually.”
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April 10, 2020 at 06:02PM
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Top recruits: Lineman Caleb Banks found football late but has U-M, MSU offers - MLive.com
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