Brandon Banks
 Banks during the 2011 Redskins training camp. | |||||||||||
| Washington Redskins | |||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 21, 1987 | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Kansas State | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2010 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011 | |||||||||||
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Brandon Banks (born December 21, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Kansas State.
Early years
Banks was a four-year starter and two-time all-conference selection at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina. He led the Trojans to three consecutive conferences championships and a 33–5 record over his final three seasons. He was named to the 2006 USA Today All-USA high school track and field team after posting a 10.42 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.44 in the 200 meter dash.[1]
College career
Junior college
Banks earned first-team All-America honors from JC Gridwire as an all-purpose player/wide receiver. He was also named a PrepStar JUCO All-American. He helped lead Bakersfield to a No. 1 national ranking, a 12–1 record on the season and a berth in the Southern California championship game. His 15 touchdowns set a school record.[2]
Kansas State
Banks transferred to Kansas State to begin the 2008 season.
Banks became the second straight Wildcat to earn offensive newcomer of the year accolades after Deon Murphy took the honor in 2007. In all, Kansas State has had eight players earn conference newcomer of the year honors since 1996.
He had one of the best seasons in school history for a junior wide receiver after collecting 67 receptions for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns. He became the sixth player in school history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season and his 67 catches and 1,049 receiving yards were the most by a Wildcat junior for a single season.
Banks also contributed on special teams in 2008 as he collected 498 yards on 18 kickoff returns and five punt returns for 58 yards. His 98-yard kickoff return against Nebraska tied for the fifth-longest in school history. Banks' 1,731 total all-purpose yardage in 2008 ranks fifth in single-season school history, while his 144.2 all-purpose yards per game mark checks in at No. 8 on the Kansas State single-season records chart. He was a first team big XII selection on special teams and he was a second team All-American his Senior Year.
College statistics
| Year | GP | Rec. | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
| 2008 | 12 | 67 | 1,049 | 15.7 | 77 | 9 |
| 2009 | 12 | 56 | 705 | 12.6 | 64 | 1 |
| Total | 24 | 123 | 1,754 | 14.3 | 77 | 10 |
Professional career
Washington Redskins
2010 Season - Present
After the 2010 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins signed Banks as an undrafted free agent on May 17, 2010.[3] He returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in the first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 13, 2010.[4] Against the New York Jets, however, he fumbled a return and had inconsistent play against the Baltimore Ravens, which included a second lost fumble.[4] The Redskins released Banks on September 26, 2010, but re-signed him to the practice squad on September 29.
In his first regular season NFL game, Banks returned his first punt 51 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles which set up a Redskin touchdown. In Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, his responsibilities expanded to include both punt and kick return duties. Banks recorded three punt returns for 47 yards and two kickoff returns for 33 yards, while a 62 yard kickoff return was negated by a holding penalty.[5] In Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, Banks blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt by Adam Vinatieri.[6][7] In week 8, October 31, 2010 against the Detroit Lions, Banks totaled 271 return yards, setting a franchise record. His 96-yard kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter was the Redskins' first kick return for a touchdown in 70 games, and the first of Banks' career.[8] Later that year Banks broke a big return at home against the Minnesota Vikings for a touchdown to give the Redskins a lead late in the game, but a penalty negated the return, and the Redskins lost.
In Week 14 of 2011 NFL season against the New England Patriots, Rex Grossman gave the ball to Roy Helu, who then gave it to Banks; Banks then threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss.[9] The pass was the first of Banks' career. A few weeks later against the Minnesota Vikings, Banks took a 2nd half reverse for a long touchdown, but just like his return touchdown in the previous meeting between the 2 teams, it was nullified by a penalty. Rex Grossman threw an interception on the next play and the Redskins went on to lose.
Personal
Banks is known for performing the John Wall Dance as his touchdown celebration.[10] Banks and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall both grew up in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and both currently play professionally in Washington, DC, with Wall as a point guard for the NBA's Wizards. On the morning of Saturday, February 12, 2011 Banks was stabbed along with another man outside a D.C. nightclub following a verbal dispute. He was admitted to Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C with a punctured lung and was released on February 18. The other victim was admitted in critical condition.[11]
References
- ^ http://www.kstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=400&ATCLID=1523653
- ^ "Brandon Banks #83". Kansas State Athletics. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) [dead link] - ^ Brandon Banks signs with Redskins, Kansas City Star, May 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Brandon Banks puts excitement back in the return game, The Washington Post, September 2, 2010.
- ^ Brandon Banks Is Growing His Skillset, Washington Redskins, October 10, 2010.
- ^ Brandon Banks Blocks A Kick (Maybe), Washington Redskins, October 17, 2010.
- ^ Colts 27, Redskins 24: Play-By-Play, ESPN, October 17, 2010.
- ^ Banks Breaks Loose In a Big Way, Washington Redskins, November 1, 2010.
- ^ "Redskins vs. Patriots: Quarter-by-quarter breakdown, game's key play". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
- ^ Barry Svrluga (11 December 2010). "Redskins' Brandon Banks, reunited with childhood friend John Wall and providing big returns". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Jones, Mike (February 16, 2011). "Washington Redskins' Brandon Banks has injury from stabbing more serious than initially indicated". The Washington Post.