Former Louisville football 3-star commit is now expected to be a first-round 2026 NFL Draft pick. Caleb Banks was once a massive hidden gem that the Cardinals landed back in 2020, but after just two seasons with the Cardinals, the now elite defensive lineman for the Florida Gators is expected to be one of the top picks selected in the next NFL Draft, per ESPN's latest 2026 mock draft.
Coming out of high school, Banks was a consensus 3-star recruit and was ranked as high as No. 964 in the nation and the No. 99 defensive linemen in the 2021 recruiting class. The Cardinals earned his commitment over big-time schools like Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee, and Arizona State, but after earning just 47 snaps in his first two seasons, he transferred to Florida.
He showed potential in his second year with Louisville as he earned 38 snaps and logged one tackle, 1.0 sacks, 1.0 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Now, he is one of the most dominant defensive linemen in college football, and ESPN predicts him to be a top 15 pick in this upcoming NFL Draft.
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Louisville fans desperately wish they kept Caleb Banks
Banks appears to be the one that got away. The former Cardinal is one of the biggest stars in college football and has a lot of hype entering his senior season.
Last year for the Gators, he earned 21 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection. ESPN expects him to take another massive leap this upcoming season, as they predict him to be the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and predict the Dallas Cowboys to draft him.
The 6-foot-6 and 330-pound linemen enter the 2025 season as a top 50 player in college football. Banks has logged a total of 42 tackles (18 solo), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection in his college career.
The Cardinals' defense could definitely use Banks' dominance this upcoming season, and Louisville fans wish he were still on the team. But now he will look to make his NFL dreams come true as he will look to carry that dominant 2024 season into 2025 and emerge as a top 15 NFL draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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