Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 MARCH 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY COREY BODDEN For El Cerrito (Calif.) High product Aaron Banks, football was not a ma- jor aspect of his life until he entered high school. The 6-5, 320-pound Californian played basketball throughout his youth and middle school, while only playing one year of organized football in fourth grade. That changed, how- ever, when Banks continued to grow. "Realizing that I was 6-foot-4, 300 pounds coming into the ninth grade," Banks said with laughter when asked why he switched his focus to foot- ball. "It wasn't planned at all. I didn't think I was going to play football in high school. I realize now that play- ing basketball was very valuable." Banks continued to play basket- ball in high school and participated on Team Arsenal on the adidas Cir- cuit during his sophomore and ju- nior years. According to MaxPreps, Banks averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a junior. Even though he was performing well on the court, Banks grabbed the attention of others on the gridiron. The consensus four-star prospect made an im- mediate impact as a freshman despite it be- ing his first season of organized football in several years. "After my freshman year, I was a Max- Preps All-American, so it wasn't too hard," Banks said of return- ing to football. "It was exciting, though. I've always played at a high level in sports. A lot of people thought I would be nervous. But I've always liked the pressure of high competition of big games." With an impressive showing as a freshman, Banks continued to flour- ish in football, eventu- ally deciding between numerous prestigious colleges to continue his career as a student- athlete — Notre Dame, Michigan, UCLA, Ne- braska, Cal, Oregon and Tennessee. Banks gives credit to basketball for develop- ing the framework for his skills as an offen- sive lineman. "I feel basketball helped me be more ver- satile and target muscle groups," he said. "It helped me gain a com- petitive edge and along with that helped me develop my footwork at a young age. "For football I'm tall and long with good footwork. I'm quick, and I have the size which will let me be effective at tackle and guard." ✦ AARON BANKS OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6-5 · 320 EL CERRITO H.S. ALAMEDA, CALIF. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 121 13 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 278 28 28 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 185 23 20 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 163 9 17 MEASURABLES • At Nike Football The Opening Regional in Oak- land, Calif., on May 22, 2016, posted a 5.64 40-yard dash, a 4.91 20-yard shuttle and a vertical leap of 23.8 inches. STATISTICS • As a senior, according to Banks, he averaged around 12 pancake blocks per game on offense and recorded 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles on defense. • El Cerrito (8-4) averaged 29.4 points per game and advanced to the second round of the 2016 CIF-North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs. HONORS • Named to the 2016 All-USA California first team by USA Today. • Selected to The Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, a listing of the top 100 senior football recruits on the West Coast. • Tabbed as the nation's No. 135 overall player and No. 29 offensive lineman by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report. • Chosen as a member of the PrepStar Top 300 Dream Team, ranked as the No. 127 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 19 offensive tackle. • Earned a spot on the MaxPreps 2016 All-Nor- Cal first team on offense. • Picked to the Cal-Hi 2016 Medium Schools All- State first team. • Named to the Mercury News and East Bay Times 2016 All-Bay Area first team. • Awarded 2016 first-team All-Metro honors by The San Francisco Chronicle. • Earned MaxPreps 2015 California Medium Schools All-State second-team honors on offense. • Named to the second-team offensive unit on the MaxPreps 2013 Freshman All-America Team. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated at the Nike Football The Opening Regional on May 22, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. RECRUITMENT • Gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on Dec. 9, 2016. • Selected Notre Dame over Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA, Cal, Tennessee and Oregon. • Visited officially for the Michigan State game (Sept. 17) and made an unofficial trip in August. He also took official visits to Michigan and Oregon during the recruiting process. • Primarily recruited by offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, who was one of the main factors in him selecting the Irish. NOTABLE • Born Sept. 3, 1997. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2017. • Wants to major in business. • He is big on cars, with his favorites being a 1972 SS Camaro and a 1963 Impala, which were both owned by his parents. • Also likes to cook. 2017 PROJECTION • Banks is likely destined for a redshirt season, but his size, strength and athleticism could allow him to push into the two-deep early on. THEY SAID IT Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand: "Aaron is a big, physical athlete, so he's got a combination of size and athletic ability. When you watch the tape he is constantly getting after people. "There's a hungry aspect of what he wants to ac- complish and embraces the challenge of academics and being a good student and being a good player. Those things go hand in hand." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Banks was a standout on both sides of the ball for El Cerrito, dominating as a guard and nose tackle during his senior season. He is a powerful blocker that thrives in the run game, and he plays the game with a nasty streak. The El Cerrito standout plays with good pad level, shows a powerful punch and drives his feet well through contact. "Improvements from a technique standpoint are needed, and Banks has to get in better shape, but he has the tools to eventually grow into a dominant blocker in the run game." Hoops Experience Helped Aaron Banks On The Gridiron The 6-5, 320-pound Banks was a multi-sport athlete throughout his prep career at El Cerrito (Calif.) High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM