While Jeremy Banks was not one of the five Tennessee players that heard his name called during the 2023 NFL Draft this weekend, the former Volunteer is still heading to an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.
Banks will be heading to the NFC South after the Tamba Bay Buccaneers picked him up following the NFL Draft on Saturday.
Banks is one of three Tennessee players to sign as undrafted free agents following the draft. Additionally, tight end Princeton Fant signed with the Dallas Cowboys and offensive lineman Jerome Carvin signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
After playing in 48 games throughout his career at the University of Tennessee, Banks will now head to Florida to try to make it onto the Buccaneers’ official 2023 roster.
Tampa bound 🏴☠️@33Banks_ ✍️ @Buccaneers #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/FHHPdNW8me
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 30, 2023
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Jeremy Banks joined the Tennessee program prior to the 2018 season from Cordova High School in Cordova, Tennessee. Banks originally began his career as a running back for the Volunteers and ran for 185 yards with three touchdowns on 52 carries throughout the 11 games that he played in as a freshman.
After practicing at both running back and linebacker throughout the next offseason, Banks officially made the transition to linebacker heading into the 2019 season and played in four games during that year. Banks was still left as a reserve linebacker during the 2020 season but burst onto the scene in a big way in 2021 during his first year under defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Banks played in all 13 games for Tennessee in 2021 and recorded a total of 128 tackles, leading the team and ranking second in the conference. The then-redshirt-junior also added in 11.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and four passes deflected.
During his final season on Rocky Top, Banks ended the season with 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and recovery, and four passes deflected.
Jeremy Banks was selected as a 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl participant after his final season at Tennessee and was invited to the NFL Combine this past March leading up to the draft.
Tennessee had five players drafted in the NFL Draft this weekend:
- No. 10 Darnell Wright (Chicago Bears)
- No. 68 Hendon Hooker (Detroit Lions)
- No. 73 Jalin Hyatt (New York Giants)
- No. 74 Cedric Tillman (Cleveland Browns)
- No. 77 Byron Young (Los Angeles Rams)
Banks Banks
🤝
Lockdown security pic.twitter.com/7wK0WKFvli— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 20, 2021
