6’1″ 235 pounds; Hometown: Cordova, Tenn.
Following his dismissal from the team in 2019 then being reinstated to the Tennessee football program in August, Jeremy Banks has played in all five games this season for the Vols. Originally recruited and even scoring three touchdowns during his freshman year as a running back, Banks’ presence up the middle now as an inside linebacker is a big asset.
Labeled as questionable against the Alabama Crimson Tide with an ankle injury, Banks saw limited playing time and did not register any stats. It was the same ankle injury he suffered against the Kentucky Wildcats that placed him on the sideline in a walking boot.
Now, assuming he recovered during the bye week and will see the field against the Arkansas Razorbacks, Tennessee football will need one of its top inside linebackers to make up for lost time. His focus will ned to be stopping the run.
Junior, Trelon Smith, leads the Hogs with 251 rushing yards, while last year’s leading rusher for Arkansas, Rakeem Boyd, still has 188. Though he’s not having as productive a year as 2019, Boyd racked up 100 yards rushing and a touchdown last week against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Banks pieced-together a career-high eight tackles in UT’s loss at the Georgia Bulldogs. He and the rest of the Vols linebackers will have a tough day if they can’t find a way to manage the Razorbacks’ two-headed rushing attack. If Banks is back on the field this Saturday, look for him to make an impact.