Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Inconsistent pad level plagues his game - stands too upright when fatigued and surrenders leverage advantage, negating natural power and making him vulnerable to drive blocks.
• Pass rush arsenal remains underdeveloped with limited counter moves when initial penetration stalls, often getting neutralized after offensive linemen recover from his first move.
• Processing speed needs improvement - appears a beat slow diagnosing screens and misdirection, occasionally losing gap integrity when reading complex blocking schemes.
• Production doesn't match physical traits - generated just 4.5 sacks in 2024 and disappears for stretches despite possessing the tools to consistently disrupt offensive gameplans.
• Tackling technique shows concerning form with too many arm tackles and poor finishing angles, explaining his subpar 54.8 tackling grade despite having the size to dominate.

Scouting Report: Summary

The tape tells a story of tantalizing flashes undermined by technical inconsistencies. When Banks gets loose in the backfield, he moves with shocking fluidity for a 325-pounder, collapsing pockets and disrupting timing. Yet those moments of brilliance remain intermittent rather than the norm. His high-end pass rush production exceeds his run defense effectiveness - a curious dynamic for someone with his mass that signals both his unusual athletic profile and his incomplete development.

The difference between what Banks is and what he could become remains the most intriguing aspect of his evaluation. His first-step quickness creates immediate leverage advantages that too often go unexploited due to underdeveloped hand technique and counter moves. The ability to line up anywhere from nose tackle to defensive end gives him scheme versatility, though his tackling limitations currently prevent him from being a true three-down force. When fatigue sets in, his technical flaws become more pronounced as he reverts to simply trying to overwhelm blockers with size rather than technique.

Banks has the physical tools to develop into a difference-maker at the next level, particularly as an interior pass rusher where his length and lateral agility create matchup problems. His senior season will be pivotal - he must show increased consistency against double teams and more refined counters when his initial rush stalls. The flashes have been bright enough to warrant serious consideration, but turning those glimpses into sustained production remains the challenge that will ultimately determine his draft position. Teams will need to decide whether they're drafting the player he is or the one he could become.