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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL Draft prospects for 2023

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /
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Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Jeremy Banks. 6. 839. Pick Analysis. Linebacker. Senior. player. Scouting Report

6’1″ 224 pounds

Similar to Jaylen McCollough but at linebacker, Jeremy Banks can sell production for Tennessee football, but he can’t sell the subtle nuances of what’s needed to play the position. Last year, Banks was the team’s leading tackler in total tackles with 128 and solo tackles with with 59. He also tied for the lead in tackles for a loss with 11.5.

Beyond those numbers, Banks had five and a half sacks, an interception, and four pass deflections. On paper, it seems like he was the perfect linebacker. However, coverage and containment was a problem for him too, and that showed up on his 52.9 regular season PFF grade, second from last among those who played 100 snaps.

Those subtle aspects were a problem for all UT linebackers, as Banks joined Solon Page III and Aaron Beasley, the three in the rotation, for the worst PFF grades. To be fair to Banks, though, the Memphis-area kid who graduated from Cordova High School in Shelby County, Tenn., committed to Tennessee football as a running back.

Banks had to convert to linebacker, and he then missed a year of development with his 2019 dismissal and subsequent 2020 reinstatement. Add in him transitioning from a 3-4 to the nickel-based 4-3 that Tim Banks runs, and he’s had a lot of changes. This’ll be his first year with stability, so if he gets his consistency in coverage up to snuff, he could be a very high projected pick.

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