Iowa State defensive tackle Latrell Bankston entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, just two days before Christmas. Shortly after, Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee offered him an opportunity to transfer to Knoxville.
Though it is not currently on his Twitter account, Bankston tweeted that the Vols offered him a scholarship and that he was “blessed to receiver an offer from the University of Tennessee.”
Bankston played one season at Iowa State after signing with the Cyclones prior to the 2020 season out of Hutchinson Community College. In one season with the Cyclones, Bankston had 16 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He did not start any games.
He signed with Iowa State ranked as the No. 3 overall junior college defensive tackle in the country according to the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings. 247 considered him the No. 14 overall player in the JUCO ranks.
Bankston, who is originally from Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Georgia, signed with Iowa State over Arizona, Arkansas, Boise State, Oregon State and Maryland. He signed with Kennesaw State out of high school before transferring to the junior college level.
“This past year at Iowa State has taught me a lot of love and compassion with these great fans of Ames Iowa,” Bankston said in a statement he released on Twitter when he announced his intentions to transfer. “You guys will always be apart of my journey and I appreciate the relationships I built with the players who are now brothers for the rest of my life.
“I will cherish the memories of a Big 12 championship experience and seeing the crazy fans of Ames Iowa take over Texas. And to Coach Campbell and Rasheed, you guys taught me a lot of who I am as a man and what I need to do to improve myself to be a greater human being and for that you will always be apart of my life. With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal. God bless you all.”
Tennessee currently has five senior defensive lineman. It’s currently unclear whether those seniors will elect to return for a second senior season since the SEC deemed this season a free year of eligibility.
