Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2017 35 BY COREY BODDEN Notre Dame wanted to add at least one more offensive lineman to the mix before closing out the 2017 class. The staff found its man in El Cerrito (Calif.) High four-star tackle Aaron Banks. The 6-7, 335-pound Banks commit- ted to the Irish Dec. 9 during a cer- emony at his high school. He picked Notre Dame over Michigan, UCLA, Cal, Nebraska, Oregon and Tennes- see. He is the 18th member of the class and the 11th four-star prospect. Head coach Brian Kelly and offen- sive line coach Harry Hiestand scored a major victory by pulling Banks from the West Coast. It started with an un- official visit to South Bend in August, when Hiestand's presentation and Notre Dame as a whole impressed Banks. "They just seemed to have a solid foundation and I got along well with the linemen that are there now," Banks told Blue & Gold Illustrated after his unofficial visit. "I really liked it. … They really seem like a family, and I like that. "Coach Hiestand took me through a regular day and just showed me what they go through day to day. He gave me info and facts about the school and him as a coach. … I like that he didn't have to go all out and throw a party to impress me." Banks returned for an official visit and took in the Notre Dame-Michi- gan State game Sept. 17, and the at- mosphere surrounding the contest impressed him. "Their crowd was crazy," Banks told Blue & Gold Illustrated in Septem- ber. "They have tradition, and their fans are loyal. "Meeting with the athletics director [Jack Swarbrick] and administration was the only thing I didn't do before. Those meetings went well. The whole thing was a good experience." Adding Banks to the mix gives the Irish its third four-star tackle joining Rivals100 prospect Robert Hainsey of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Josh Lugg of Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny. Banks is currently ranked as the No. 14 offensive tackle and No. 112 overall player nationally by Ri- vals. The Irish staff put a ton of effort into landing Banks, and it paid off in the end. Hiestand saw Banks the week before and the week of his commitment. Kelly visited the four-star with Hiestand the first time. Banks is sched- uled to be an early enrollee. He also took official visits to Michigan and Or- egon. For his first three years of high school, Banks' offensive line coach was Marcus McClarty, who moved on to Contra Costa College before Banks' senior year. McClarty has high hopes for Banks at the next level. "Three things: effort, toughness and technique. He brings it all — all in one," McClarty said. "He is a hard worker, and he's nasty. I think he'll be a dominant player. "Anything you ask him to do, he's willing to do it. That's what sets him apart. A lot of high school offensive linemen don't put in the extra work and the extra-curricular that he does. On and off the field, he just prepares himself." McClarty said that having a player like Banks around is great for a team, not only because of his elite talent, but also because of his leadership. "I've never seen a guy so focused," McClarty stated. "He's always ask- ing me, 'Coach, when can we come in for our fitness?' or 'Coach, I just need to go through this homework real quick and then we can go to the gym.' "When we're doing conditioning, he's busting his butt. When we're in the weight room, he's busting his butt, and everyone sees that." ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths Aaron Banks is a big pickup for Notre Dame, figuratively and literally … Not only does he meet a huge need, he is also a massive pros- pect … Dominating in the run game is without question his best attribute at this point … A powerful player that comes off the line quickly and with good pad level … Drives his feet well and is a strong finisher … For such a big player, shows surprising quickness and agility … Once he adds good technique to his skills, could excel at tackle, guard or even at nose guard. Areas For Improvement Has a thick frame, but one that can get very top heavy if he doesn't stay on top of it … El Cerrito (Calif.) High doesn't ask him to pass protect very much, so he will need to gain more experience with that part of his game … Also has to learn to use his hands much bet- ter, something line coach Harry Hiestand will certainly work on. — Bryan Driskell COMMITMENT PROFILE AARON BANKS "THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION AND I GOT ALONG WELL WITH THE LINEMEN THAT ARE THERE NOW. … THEY REALLY SEEM LIKE A FAMILY, AND I LIKE THAT." BANKS ON WHY HE PICKED NOTRE DAME Four-Star Californian Joins The Irish Offensive Line Family Rivals rates Banks as a four-star recruit, the No. 15 player in California, and the No. 14 offensive tackle and No. 112 prospect nationally. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN