Caleb Banks Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of David Bowie/Gator Country)

School: Florida

Class: Redshirt Senior

Position: DT

HT: 6’5

WT: 330 lbs

Background: Caleb Banks was a 3-star defensive lineman in the 2021 class out of Detroit, Michigan. Banks played for Southfield A&T, where he was a team captain and Sports Illustrated All-American nominee. As a senior for Southfield, he recorded 42 tackles and 12 TFLs. Caleb committed to Louisville over Cincinnati, Michigan, Tennessee, and others.

College: Banks redshirted in 2021 and was used as a reserve in 2022 as a Cardinal. After two seasons with Louisville, Banks transferred to Florida. Banks became an instant starter for the Gators. In 12 games in 2023, he recorded 19 tackles and a sack. Caleb took a major step forward in 2024 as he had 7 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 10 games. His 2025 was riddled by injury, but he returned healthy in late November.

Strengths: Caleb Banks is a massive human being with eye-popping athleticism given his frame. He has a perfect blend of agility, size, and speed to win consistently on the interior. Banks explodes off the line of scrimmage and into the point of attack. His first step is quick and can easily overwhelm offensive linemen. His lateral agility allows him to monitor multiple gaps and close rushing lanes before they can be exploited. His size allows him to completely clog up the interior, almost solely on his own. For a defensive tackle, Banks has an impressive repertoire of pass rushing moves. His arm chop deconstructs blocks efficiently to free him from any grip. His swim move, largely due to his length, allows him to maneuver right through the line and into the backfield. That is his most utilized move in the pass rush. Banks has incredible strength, showing up in all phases of the game. He has a powerful jab that he uses to loosen the anchor of his opponent, knocking them back and on their heels.

Weaknesses: Banks plays too high on a majority of reps. He could afford to play lower and with more leverage, which may be difficult with his hulking frame. He gets displaced or knocked off his path more than one would think with his frame. Banks is susceptible to getting washed by combo blocks and angle blocks in the run game. If he is not meeting the ball carrier at or behind the line of scrimmage, his impact is severely diminished.

Conclusion: Caleb Banks is a physical defensive tackle who can completely blow up the interior of an offensive line. His size makes it hard for the quarterback to have a clear line of sight without feeling immense pressure.

Best Team Fits: LAC, CLE, DET

Player Comparison: Gervon Dexter Sr.

Player Grade: Round 1 (91.9)