2023 BCS CB Scouting Report
Player: Deonte Banks
School: Maryland
Year: RS Junior
Games Watched: Michigan 2022, Ohio State 2022
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Man Coverage: Sticky and physical in coverage. Shows a strong jam in press. Redirects and creates collisions to limit separation. Patient at the LOS.
Zone Coverage: Played majority of man in games watched. Has reps playing some Cover 2. Is always physical when in underneath zone. Carries deeper zone coverage when there is no other underneath threat. In Cover 3 he does a good job of maintaining his deep coverage and relating to the receiver while keying the QB.
Reaction/Recovery: Uses collisions and grabs as a reaction to sudden route breaks. Will have a hard time catching up to receivers running away from him on drag routes.
Long speed: Has the necessary speed to carry most vertical routes. True burners will give him trouble if he’s not physical with them. Plays at one speed, doesn’t have high end acceleration. Has build up speed when running deep.
Ball skills: Has 2 career interceptions. Much more of a play through the hands disruptor than a true ball hawk.
Run Support: Impressive play strength shows when defending the run. Is proactive when attacking downhill. Won’t simply wait for the runner to come to him. Fights through blocks and will force the blocker back into the runner.
COD Ability: Isn’t the most fluid athlete changing direction. Grabby at the top of the stem. Needs a few extra steps to gather himself when reacting to comeback routes.
Awareness: Reacts well to pre snap motion. Assignment sound distributing routes when playing man match. Directs traffic on the back end. Communicates well.
Tackling: Another area where play strength shows. Tackles with force. Doesn’t allow yardage after initial contact. Shoulder square head up tackler.
Physicality/Toughness: Very tough and physical player. Makes the receiver work for everything. Plays a physical bump and run coverage and fights throughout the catch.
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Man Coverage (15) – 13
Run Support (5) – 4
Zone Coverage (10) – 6
COD Ability (10) – 6
Reaction/Recovery (10) – 6
Awareness (10) – 7
Long speed (10) – 7
Tackling (10) – 8
Ball skills (10) – 6
Physicality/Toughness (10) – 8
Grade: 71/100 Day 2
Summary: Deonte Banks is a smart tough football player that will make you fight for everything. He will bully receivers that aren’t prepared to match his physical nature. I believe him to be best playing man coverage with safety coverage over top. He should excel in some 2 Man or Cover 2 schemes. I also believe he has upside as a hybrid CB/S where he can fit the run as a Nickel defender and take on bigger receivers and TEs.
Report Author: EJ Holt
Twitter: @EJHolt_NFLDraft