Caleb Banks is a defensive tackle and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who spent his final two seasons at the University of Florida after previous stops at Louisville. A native of Southfield, Michigan, Banks was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class who originally committed to Arizona State before flipping to Louisville, where he redshirted as a true freshman and saw limited action in year two before entering the transfer portal. He joined Florida ahead of the 2023 season and became an immediate starter with the Gators, posting 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack in 12 games. His 2024 junior season was his breakout, with 21 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery across 12 starts, highlighted by dominant back-to-back performances against LSU and Ole Miss to close the regular season that generated 15 total pressures in two weeks and led to SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He missed most of 2025 with a foot injury, starting only three games before entering the draft with career totals of 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He performed well at the Senior Bowl in limited action.
Measuring approximately 6 feet 6 inches and 327 to 337 pounds with the longest hands of any player at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at 10 7/8 inches, Banks is a physically unique defensive tackle whose combination of unusual height, elite length, and genuine athleticism for his frame creates matchup problems that few interior defenders can present. His first-step explosiveness allows him to threaten multiple gap assignments before offensive linemen can set their angles, his spin move and swim counter are advanced for a player of his size, and his length allows him to reach quarterbacks from attacking angles that shorter interior defenders cannot access. The evaluation comes with significant caveats: his high pad level creates leverage issues that prevent him from consistently anchoring against double teams, his tackling efficiency has been below average throughout his career, and the 2025 foot injury raises medical questions. He projects as a late first to early second-round selection as a boom-or-bust athlete whose ceiling in a one-gap scheme is as high as any interior prospect in the class.
