2023 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State DE Keshawn Banks
The San Diego State defensive end has been overshadowed over the last few years, but he’s a solid potential contributor to the NFL.
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Time for Banks to shine?
It isn’t easy being overlooked, but San Diego State fans will tell you that, yes, Cameron Thomas and Jonah Tavai were both Aztec greats… and so was Keshawn Banks.
Hailing from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Banks came to San Diego State as a three-star recruit in 2018 and found himself playing part-time as a true freshman later that year. He earned a starting role as a sophomore, however, and earned the first of two all-conference second-team defense nods. The other came two years later, when the Aztecs made it to the Mountain West championship game, while 2022 marked the third season in which he posted double-digit tackles for loss.
2023 NFL Draft: Where Are Mountain West Players Projected On The Composite Big Board?
He leaves the Mesa as one of the program’s most productive defenders in recent memory, but will that be enough to earn a coveted phone call from the NFL?
Measurables (taken from Dane Brugler)
Height – 6′ and 3 1/4″
Weight – 251 pounds
40-yard time – N/A
10-yard split time – N/A
Arm length – 32 3/4
Hand size – 10 1/4″
Wingspan – 78 1/4″
Vertical jump – 29″
Broad jump – 8′ and 11″ (or 107″)
Shuttle time – 4.60 seconds
3-cone drill time – 7.30 seconds
Bench press – 20 reps
Highlights
He understood the assignment. @keshawn_banks with a BIG TFL.#Win22 | #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/rKXnSOnG4X
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) September 18, 2021
"Saturday's are ALL Business…All we want are Sacks & TFL's—we ain't worried bout nothing else"-Keshawn Banks
Subscribe on YouTube for our full @AztecFB video interview w/@keshawn_banks & a surprise guest: https://t.co/UUXuvzpnd7
Buy his official #2 Tee: https://t.co/LHGSPmQus7 pic.twitter.com/r1mdxt9DtH— SONS OF MONTEZUMA™ (@sonsofmonty) August 17, 2022
Strengths
Playing time and seeing the field is a big strength for Banks. He was a fifth-year senior with the COVID-19 waiver and he saw action in 26 games in year four and five, playing a lot.
His numbers don’t show it all but one of his abilities was to create pressure and get after the quarterback, even if he wasn’t the one to make the sack. In Banks final two years, he had 53 quarterback hurries and 26 hits on QB’s, plus 10 sacks.
He clearly is great in pursuit with his 10 tackles for loss last year. He has the speed and side-to-side mobility to attack the back field. Playing in the Aztecs 3-3-5 scheme allowed him to play in a three-point stance or be a stand up edge rusher. That versatility should help him at the next level as Banks will be fighting for a roster spot.
Weaknesses
Power and being overly physical is not a high trait for Banks as he will be a defensive lineman at the next level. While fast, he isn’t quick and beating offensive lineman off the ball will prove difficult.
6-foot-4 is a great height but 255 might not be big enough to go up against offensive lineman at the NFL level. He needs to mix in some different moves and be faster off the line if he is going to make it on the defensive front at the next level.
NFL Comparison
Kendall Coleman, Colts.
Coleman’s traits are similar to Banks. They both are about the same size and had some issues with their technique if it were to transfer to the NFL level. Coleman was an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse to the Indianapolis Colts, but he was cut during training camp.
Draft Prediction
All signs points for Banks to being an undrafted free agent come Saturday night. That does not mean he is a guy who will not make an impact. There have been plenty of players who don’t get drafted and have an NFL career.
The website NFL Mock Draft Database has Banks as the 514th consensus player. At one point he was as high as 342nd. The website tracks player rankings all across the Internet and makes a composite list of these rankings.
However, it takes only one team to like you enough to be selected among the 259 picks or be signed as a priority free agent.
