Fire up the bat signal… Aaron Banks became the 18th commitment in Notre Dame’s 2017 recruiting class when he announced for the Irish at his school today. The 6-7, 315 lb lineman from El Cerrito High in La Mirada, CA becomes and the fourth offensive lineman, joining Josh Lugg, Robert Hainsey, and Dillan Gibbons. Banks will also join Hainsey, CJ Holmes, Brock Wright, and Isaiah Robertson as early enrollees.
Banks kept fairly quiet during his recruitment, so analysts and recruitniks alike had a hard time getting a temperature for his situation. After his official visit to Michigan, consensus was that the Wolverines had moved ahead for his services; however, over the last several days, a very different picture emerged. Banks has built an extremely strong relationship with Harry Hiestand based on honesty and trust – for example, he dropped almost 40 pounds after Hiestand told him he needed to reshape his body if he was serious about playing at the next level. Further, the Irish staff put more effort into Banks than any of the other suitors, including multiple visits from Brian Kelly himself.
But wait, I thought Kelly never left South Bend?
Recruiting Service Rankings
247 – 4 star (92 rating), #188 overall, #24 OT, #19 in CA
Rivals – 4 star (5.9 rating), #112 overall, #14 OT, #15 in CA
Scout – 4 star, #150 overall, #7 OG, #15 in CA
ESPN – 4 star (80 rating), #282 overall, #28 OT, #28 in CA
247 Composite – 4 star (.9270 rating), #172 overall, #19 OT, #20 in CA
Cohort
Banks holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Miami, Oregon, Pitt, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, among others.
Highlights
There’s no senior season tape available; the highlights below are from El Cerrito’s game against league opponent St. Mary’s. Other game highlights are available on Banks’s Hudl page. In addition to being a mean offensive tackle, Banks plays defensive end for El Cerrito (no, he won’t play there in college) and suits up for the basketball team as well. The athleticism is evident here, as he looks pretty light on his feet for a kid that big. On both sides of the ball he shows a nice mean streak – he wants to punish a defender or a ball carrier, not just stop him. He shows impressive power and a decent burst. In run blocking especially, he shows some really good leg drive; it’s nice to see him not just rely on upper body strength to overwhelm the defender.
Not surprisingly, he needs a lot of work on technique – there are times when he stands almost straight up on the snap, which is going to get him knocked on his butt at the next level. He’ll need to get more active with his hands as well as the rushers he faces get more advanced. His tackling technique is more VanGorder than Aranda, but, well, that’s not all that relevant. In all likelihood he’ll plenty of time to work on his technique anyway, so no real worries there.
Impact
Banks will get the opportunity to redshirt in 2017. He’ll be able to build on his already excellent effort to reshape his body, while also honing is technique under the watchful gaze of Hiestand. I don’t think he’ll contribute significantly until 2019, but that’s more related to the overall health of his position group than to his ability. He profiles very nicely as an athletic guard or, perhaps, a mauling right tackle.
Welcome to the Irish family, Aaron!
So, I decided to check out NDN to see how they would spin ND landing Banks. Nothing there (at least not yet). Instead, they were whining about the fact that in Jack Swarbrick’s most recent radio show, he gave short shrift to the Observer “Ad,” and even had the gall to claim that the various parody ads were humorous! One poster is upset that he doesn’t have more money to give to the ad campaign. Pretty funny. http://www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=football;pid=178482;d=all
Really big pickup, and it really solidifies the strength of this OL haul. People were fretting for a while about not being able to land another blue-chip lineman. Well, fret no more.
BK and Co. have clearly been working their butt off on the recruiting trail since the season wrapped up. Let’s keep this going and close out the class with a few more blue-chip guys.
That is an awesome get! Jumps ND up to #7 currently in the Scout rankings, which seems encouraging. Hopefully a few more pieces of good news trickle in after The Echoes!
I think we could get Jamire Calvin this weekend. I’m 50/50 on whether we get Josh Paschal, period, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped too (I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t, either, just saying). I like our chances to make a big move for Greg Johnson, although I don’t think he’ll commit anywhere for a little while yet. Antjuan Simmons is on a previously-scheduled OV to Arizona this weekend, but we’re trending the right way with him.
Buckle up, folks. Going to be a fun ride.
Notre Dame outWORKED Michigan. They’re also pressing Simmons harder than anyone. And have done terrific work lately with Johnson since his decommittment.
Well done here, BK and staff.
Banks is a outstanding addition. I think he plans on signing early but I might be wrong because I didn’t see it mentioned above. Getting Banks could pay off big time down the road with his brother.
Yes, he is an EE. Along with CJ Holmes, Hainsey, Brock Wright, and Isaiah Robertson.
It’s been a while since we used this. I felt it was needed today.
Indeed beautiful additions to the board (both Banks and the gif)!!! This past season has been like holding an angle grinder to my face… hurts like the dickens but feels oh, so good when I stop. Let the good times begin now!
Unrelated: Kiffin getting squeezed out of jobs all over, it seems. Major Applewhite promoted at Houston (I won’t reuse the same “he’s now Colonel Applewhite” joke), Reports that Charlie Strong is in at USF, and Luke Fickell will take over Cincinnati. One curious thing–the ESPN article on Fickell said he was tOSU’s DC (note: not “Co-DC”). Everything I’ve seen about Greg Schiano as a possible hire lists him as tOSU’s DC (again: not “Co-DC”). I mean, clearly they were co-DC’s, but just seems odd.
Not really surprised about Kiffin. Saw a quote from someone at UH saying he wasn’t a “safe hire” – duuuhhhhh lol. I did see an article on twitter this morning (can’t remember the source) listing Fickell as Co-DC for tOSU playoff run, whatever that’s worth.
Also saw some suggestions that Houston never had any interest in Kiffin – that may have been drummed up exclusively by his agent. Oops.
Or by Nick Saban, trying to get him a job other than LSU offensive coordinator.
Edit: And as soon as I type this, I see ESPN is reporting that Kiffin has been hired as the HC at FAU.