Reviewing Louisville football’s newest commitment

Louisville football continues to beef up the defensive line on the recruiting trail.

On Halloween day, the Cardinals got a commitment from 2021 Michigan defensive lineman Caleb Banks. Banks is commitment number 22 in the for the Cardinals’ 2021 class as the scholarships are inching closer to filling up.

This commitment comes at no shock to Cards fans who saw Banks trending on the 247 Sports Crystal Ball in the week leading up to his decision. Banks racked up eight crystal ball picks to the Cards before he made his decision final.

Banks tweeted out a short commitment video on Twitter to announce his choice.

https://twitter.com/Cbanks22_/status/1322599333695492097?s=20

Banks attends Southfield High School in Southfield, Michigan. For those of you that may recognize that place for one reason or another, you may remember that 2020 signee Christian Fitzpatrick also attended Southfield before he arrived at U of L.

Banks’s 247 Sports profile lists him at 6’6″ 255 lbs as a high school senior. That’s some impressive size for the young man. It’s size that Louisville sorely needs on their defensive line right about now.

Banks would be tied with nose tackle Jared Goldwire as the tallest defensive lineman on the team right now if you placed him onto the roster.

Here is what 247 Sports National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu had to say about Banks back in April:

"Tall, long, lean frame. Carries his weight well and does not look as heavy as listed on the hoof. Can easily carry more weight. Fluid athlete who can get off the ball and make plays in the backfield. Can bend and turn the corner. Does not project as a weak-side speed rusher, but can be a big, strongside guy who can still get to the quarterback. Raw with his technique. Once his hands and counter moves become more natural, he will be tough to stop. Could also be a high level offensive tackle, but college plan for him is defense. Should be a starter for a high major program. Will need some time, but has too much talent not to project as an impact guy."

Although listed as a strongside defensive end by 247 Sports, Michael McCammon of 247 Sports’ Cardinal Authority reported that the hope is for Banks to play nose tackle for the Cardinals. That makes sense for the Cards who currently have four true defensive ends committed.

If Banks can put on about 50 pounds of weight and keep the athleticism he currently possesses, he could be an absolute problem for interior offensive linemen at the next level. However, if nose tackle is not the place for him, he certainly will have the ability to carve out a role as a strongside defensive end.

In the 3-4 defensive system that the Cardinals play, Banks would thrive as a jumbo defensive end. But, if nose tackle is his place, he certainly has a ton of upside if he can put that kind of weight onto his frame.

The football staff has clearly identified defensive line as a position of need for the Cardinals on the recruiting trail. The class is now up to five defensive players that will be putting their hands in the dirt when they arrive to campus. That is massive for a program that is clearly undermanned in the trenches at the moment.

Louisville fans should be excited for this commitment. Banks is rated the 930th overall player by the 247 Sports Composite. That does not sound great by first glance. However, Allen Trieu’s words and a quick watch of his Hudl should get people more excited for this kind of player headed to be in the Cardinals program for three to five years.