The running back and linebacker is rejoining the Tennessee football Volunteers.
Just over 11 months after his initial dismissal, Jeremy Banks has been reinstated by Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt. UT’s third-year head coach confirmed the news in a zoom press conference after his first preseason practice Monday, according to Patrick Brown of GoVol247.
Banks, once a four-star running back out of Cordova High School in Memphis in the Vols’ 2018 class along with teammate Jerome Carvin, had moved over to linebacker early last year. He was pulled over for making an illegal U-Turn and was arrested for an outstanding warrant in his name in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 15.
Police arrested Banks the morning after he had two interceptions in Tennessee football’s first win of the 2019 season, over the Chattanooga Mocs. His punishment was going to be handled internally until footage obtained by WBIR revealed him making very controversial comments about police officers. Banks apologized in a statement on Oct. 1.
According to Monday’s article, he is officially back on the team. Pruitt opened the door for his return at his National Signing Day press conference back in February, and there had been reports of Banks being enrolled in classes and making appearances with hospitals and police officers.
At 6’1″ 211 pounds, Banks will be eligible to claim a redshirt from last year, meaning he will be a redshirt sophomore in 2020. It’s likely he will remain at linebacker with the arrival of a few more running backs in this class. Jimmy Hyams tweeted out earlier in the day, before Pruitt’s announcement, that he is expected to compete for a job at inside linebacker.
Tennessee is expected to officially announce today the reinstatement of RB-LB Jeremy Banks, who was dismissed last year. He is expected to compete for a job at inside linebacker.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) August 17, 2020
With the departure of Daniel Bituli, Rocky Top certainly has an opening at inside linebacker. Henry To’o To’o is locked into to the other position, but Tennessee football needs all the help it can get for the other spot.
Banks will be able to compete with Quavaris Crouch, J.J. Peterson, Solon Page and a few newcomers for that role. His addition certainly provides for lots more depth there than was initially expected.