Caleb Banks speaks to the media on Thursday at UF's annual Pro Day. (Photo: Scott Carter/UAA Communications)
Scooter Today, Sundays Soon? Banks Betting on Himself
Friday, March 27, 2026 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks was not in an ideal position on Thursday at UF's Pro Day, less than a month until the NFL Draft.
Banks was on the field, but he was in a cheerleader role with his left foot wrapped and balanced on a motorized scooter. While a dozen of his teammates worked out for NFL personnel, Banks scooted around the field offering support.
Banks reinjured the left foot that caused him to miss nine games last season while practicing his takeoff for the 40-yard dash the night before the NFL Combine in late February in Indianapolis. He underwent surgery on March 9 to repair a cracked fourth metatarsal bone, the same injury that hampered Banks in his final season at UF.
Still, Banks is optimistic about his draft prospects. Multiple projections had him going in the first round before his latest setback – and some continue to rank Banks a first-rounder.
"I've been through it before,'' Banks said Thursday. "I knew the mindset that I needed to have going through this next process. I wasn't bothered by it at all."
Banks' outlook is understandable when you consider what NFL scouts see: a 6-foot-6, 330-pound defensive tackle with quick feet, an explosive burst and long arms.
Chad Reuter, a longtime draft analyst for NFL.com, has the Bucs selecting Banks with the No. 15 overall pick.
What about Banks' foot?
"The Buccaneers may very well overlook Banks' recent foot injury … because few humans possess his combination of size and agility,'' Reuter wrote. "Alongside Vita Vea, Banks will form a wall in the run game and provide some interior pass rush that'll make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Vea is a free agent next year, so a healthy Banks could fill those huge shoes."
It's not difficult to find other bullish takes on Banks' draft prospects.
Caleb Banks sprints in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February. (Photo: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Draft analyst Charles McDonald of Yahoo! Sports has Carolina taking Banks in the first round with the 19th overall pick.
"He is a behemoth tackle with elite athleticism and sound technique to diagnose and defeat blocks — he just can't tackle," MacDonald opines after film study. "Now, that's concerning, but his other traits are so dynamic and overwhelming that even marginal improvement in that problematic area would make him a plus starter in the NFL."
ESPN's NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Banks the fifth defensive tackle available on his latest draft board, behind Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Christen Miller (Georgia) and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech).
Meanwhile, prominent ESPN analyst Field Yates, taking an informed approach concerning Banks' injury, has him going in the second round to Indianapolis at 47th overall.
But he understands the buzz Banks has generated.
"Could Banks be long gone before this? It's possible,'' Yates wrote. "He's 6-6 and 327 pounds and has 35-inch arms to give him pass-rushing upside. With 32-year-old DeForest Buckner returning from a neck injury, the Colts need youth at defensive tackle."
Banks gained momentum in the draft by his performance at the Senior Bowl, and he showed off his athleticism at the combine, where he nearly ran a sub-5.00 40 despite his injured foot. He also leaped 32 inches in the vertical.
Banks said Thursday he has an 8- to 12-week recovery time and should be ready for offseason workouts in June. He added that he didn't think the latest injury was serious until the pain increased during his partial workout at the combine.
"It happened the night before. I was practicing my starts around 11 o'clock, and it popped. I'm just thinking it's like a muscle injury or something like that."
Once the severity was diagnosed, he prepped for surgery and returned to Gainesville, where he will rehab and continue preparing for the draft.
A three-star recruit who grew up in Detroit and ranked the 99th best defensive lineman in the 2021 recruiting class, Banks spent two seasons at Louisville before transferring to Florida. In his collegiate career, Banks appeared in 34 games over five seasons, recording 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defended.
He appeared in only three games last season, injuring his left foot in spring camp, and then he re-injured it in fall camp. He returned to face LSU in the third game but aggravated the injury, underwent surgery and made it back to play in the final two games.
He addressed on Thursday whether he is concerned teams might view him as a risk in the draft.
"Absolutely not. I don't think it undercuts my value,'' he said. "I don't think it did anything detrimental to my draft stock. I'll be back in June and ready to go."
Banks said he has met with the Chiefs, Ravens and Cardinals, and has meetings scheduled with the Lions, Titans, Broncos, Falcons and Chargers.
He remains uncertain of his draft-day plans, but Banks is eager to get back on the field and show what he can do rather than answer questions about what he can't.
That will take time. But based on the pre-draft chatter, Banks is confident for good reason.
"I'm blessed to go wherever I go," he said. "I don't care where it is. XFL, NFL, I don't care. I just want to play ball and get off this damn scooter and go play football. I'm excited. I'm proud of myself, you know what I mean?
"I work hard every single day so I can go out there and compete. I'm a big guy to compete all the time, no matter what it is — rock, paper, scissors. I'll play one of y'all right now. I promise you I'm gonna win. That's just how I am. I take pride in a lot of that stuff. Happy I went out there and did what I did."
