“This Year Is Going To Be Better”: “This year is going to be better” Caleb Banks discusses his offseason progress.
Caleb Banks, a redshirt junior defensive lineman in his second season with the Gators, is prepared to bring it all together in his final season of collegiate football. After logging just 47 combined plays in his two previous seasons at Louisville (2021–2022), Banks had his first meaningful amount of playing action at the collegiate level in 2023. Banks led all Gators interior defensive linemen in tackles last season with 19 (7 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in 364 snaps across 12 games.
Regarding Banks, head coach Billy Napier remarked, “Caleb was one of those players that we played last year that really had no experience.” “I still recall Banks saying, ‘Coach man, we were out there in Utah, I’m shaking like a leaf,'” at the departure meeting. Really, he had never participated in a collegiate game.
“He played in more than 300 plays last year, which gave him a lot of experience. However, he sustained some minor injuries in the second half of the season.”
The most significant advancement for Banks throughout the offseason was developing a steady and responsible playing style, which the Gators’ coaching staff feels is getting better.
He’s enjoyed his offseason. Regarding Banks, Napier remarked, “Just keeping growing, staying steady, his work ethic, his practice habits, his mental toughness, because he’s definitely very talented.” Everyone at this level has skill and a strong work ethic; the intangibles are more important, right? The focus with him is on how we can improve ourselves and then the intangible components of the team.
Banks played at Louisville before having to go from the ACC to the SEC. Now that he has completed a year of SEC experience, Banks is prepared to demonstrate why he was rated as the top portal prospect in 2023.
Regarding playing in the SEC, Banks stated, “Very terrifying, honestly.” “I still remember my first game versus Utah, when I raced out onto the field and had shivers down my spine, thinking there was no way I could play this. But then I realized that I was Caleb Banks, and I could do whatever I wanted. Anything is possible for you. I think I played well when I got out there. I played the remainder of the season; I think our first home game was versus Tennessee, and it was challenging. Though rather challenging, I managed to overcome it. This year is going to be better than the last one.
Banks was the Gators’ fifth-highest-graded defensive player last season with a grade of 75.8, according to PFF, despite some early difficulties. After a great conclusion to the last season, Banks made it apparent that this one will be much better.
