Defensive Tackle Caleb Banks has Man Moving Power

Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for University of Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.

I gave him a first-round grade on his 2024 game film, but then he missed most of the 2025 season due to injury.

😳

According to the Gainesville Sun, Banks missed the first two games due to “a foot injury late in fall camp,” and then “broke his foot in the LSU game.”

The injury required surgery (gatorswire.usatoday.com).

What happened next?

Was that it?

Did they shut him down for the rest of the season?

Nope.

Banks bounced back and ended up playing in the Gators’ final two regular-season games against the Volunteers and the Seminoles.

How’d he look?

He reminded me why I put a first-round grade on his 2024 game film.

“Ragdolling people”

That’s a term used to describe when one of the big guys has such extreme raw strength and power that they can move and even toss around grown men at will.

This term applies to Banks.

He can take over any ol’ time he feels like it, and he does. He can absolutely overwhelm 300+ pound offensive linemen. It’s not every play. In fact, at times, all he does is get a “decent push” on passing plays, and that’s the end of it.

But when his energy level spikes and that switch goes on, look out.

Criticisms?

Absolutely ⎯

He’s inconsistent against the pass and against the run. That was the one consistent thing about his 2025 tape before and after the injury.

1. He appears raw as a pass rusher. He looks like he’s still trying to figure it out. He’s got an overpowering swim move as a pass rusher, but he seldom uses it. He also flashes a devastating rip move to gain leverage against blockers and to progress into the pocket, but he only shows it every once-in-a-while.

Scary thought.

2. He plays at too high a pad level as a run defender. Most of my notes were in the “neutral” and “negative” columns when it came to my observations of Banks against the run. Sure, occasionally, he was able to come off a block and crush someone like a tin can, but generally speaking, offensive linemen handled him on running plays.

3. Missed tackles on running plays. There were a handful of times he guessed right and shot a gap and was in position to make a big-time tackle for a loss, but he couldn’t secure the tackle, and the running back got away.

Banks has a ways to go as a run defender.

Leap of faith

It’s been said before ⎯

Scouting is not an exact science.

It’s the study of human behavior and human performance being evaluated by imperfect human beings. There are a lot of variables, and sometimes, like in this case, it comes down to a hunch. I’ll be honest, there were times during my film study this season when I was on the fence between a first and second round grade, but I keep coming back to the plays when he takes over.

Banks has intoxicating power.

And I’m here for it.

#88 Caleb Banks 6-foot-6, 330 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

ALERT: HIGH INJURY RISK

*Two previously reported injuries: December 1, 2024 (leg injury), and March 10, 2025 (foot)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First Round prospect as of March 5, 2026

Gators’ Defensive Tackle Caleb Banks is Coming on Strong (2024: 11 games evaluated)

2025 game film evaluated: LSU, Tennessee, and FSU (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Per Pro Football Focus: played in 96 snaps this season

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic big man with fluctuating motivation. Dominant and equally distributed strong frame. Long arms. Thick muscular thighs. Capable of locking out at the initial point of attack. His hands are like two stun guns. Inconsistent hand usage. Gets some degree of movement at the point depending on the techniques used. Fluid movements. Hard squeezes space. Draws his fair share of double teams. Struggles disengaging from run blocks. Allows blockers to get into his chest too easily. Looks too soft against the run.

Final words

Banks’ ceiling is insane.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.