Husky Target Profile: Jordan Banks (’20)

Updated: Aug 22

Edge/OLB, Nathaniel Narbonne High School Los Angeles (Harbor City), CA

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Overview

Banks plays as a DL and LB for his HS team, which is one of the most talented teams in the Greater Los Angeles area. Even with all of the other talent on the field, Banks stands out.

Recruitment Status

Banks holds offers from 16-20 Power 5 teams, including leading programs in the Pac-12, SEC, and Big Ten, plus Oklahoma.

Recently he officially announced the final four programs he is considering:

Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Washington. His interest in Ohio State is listed as “Cool” currently by 247 Sports.

From what I understand, Banks is being recruited primarily as a traditional inside LB by Alabama and Ohio State. He projects as an outside player in the Husky defense. Oklahoma just needs defensive talent (per OU Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch), so I imagine they will let him try to play wherever he wants.

Prospect Evaluation/Schematic Fit

His height (at 6’1″ or maybe 6’2″) is slightly below prototype for a pass rusher, which is probably why Alabama projects him inside. But his highlights show an explosive first step, good use of his hands to defeat blockers, energetic pursuit, and solid fundamentals playing against the rush from a start with his hand on the ground.

He played last season at nearly 240 pounds, from what I can tell. He has slimmed down a bit since, probably in an effort to be more equipped to play ILB.

Suburban Kodak says: “You can’t teach Banks’ explosiveness and no matter where you put him in our system, he’ll succeed. Even top-ranked 5-stars don’t have the explosiveness of Jordan Banks.”

In the UW defense he projects as an edge player to me. With his height and frame, he resembles Joe Mathis physically, but with a higher ceiling, due to his exceptional explosiveness. He would be extremely productive lined up outside of the DLs that Washington has in the pipeline.

Junior Highlights

Bottom Line Beyond his raw talent, Banks is a very important recruit for the Huskies because of where he plays. Narbonne has become one of the top teams in Los Angeles, and Washington has not had great success recruiting LA county public school players in recent years.

Between Banks’ natural ability, the physical development that is certain under Tim Socha’s Strength & Conditioning program, and the coaching he would get from UW DL Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, his upside in Washington’s system is really exciting.

Banks has set an official visit for the Huskies’ game with USC, at the end of September (9/28).