Caleb Banks Is Turning Heads at the Senior Bowl - And Cementing His First-Round Hype
The college football season may be over, but for NFL hopefuls, the work is far from done. And if there’s one Florida Gator making the most of his post-season opportunity, it’s Caleb Banks. The towering defensive tackle has been making waves at the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl - and in the process, he’s giving NFL scouts plenty to think about ahead of April’s draft.
Banks, a former Louisville transfer who spent the last three seasons anchoring the Gators’ defensive line, arrived in Mobile with a first-round buzz already attached to his name. Now, after a strong showing this week, that buzz is starting to sound more like a consensus.
A Slow Start, Followed by a Statement
Senior Bowl week is all about proving you belong - and Banks did just that. After a bit of a slow start, he flipped the switch on Day 3. That’s when he started dominating reps in one-on-one drills, flashing the kind of burst and finishing ability that evaluators had been waiting to see.
He didn’t just win reps - he made statements. Banks picked up a sack during team drills and consistently held his ground against the run, showing off the complete toolkit.
The knock on him coming into the week was whether he could consistently disrupt plays at the next level. He answered that question with authority.
Built for the League
At 6-foot-6 and 329 pounds, Banks is a rare blend of size, strength, and athleticism. He’s the kind of interior lineman who can eat up double teams and still find his way to the quarterback. That’s gold in today’s NFL, where interior pressure is more valuable than ever.
What makes Banks especially intriguing is his versatility. He’s not just a space-eater - he can collapse the pocket on passing downs and clog running lanes on early downs. That dual-threat capability is what separates good prospects from great ones, and it’s why his stock continues to rise.
Production That Matches the Potential
While injuries limited him to just six games this past season, Banks’ body of work over his first two years in Gainesville speaks volumes. In that time, he racked up 40 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles - numbers that reflect both his disruptive presence and his ability to finish plays.
And now, with a strong Senior Bowl week under his belt, he’s reminding everyone why he was considered one of the most physically gifted defensive linemen in the SEC.
Looking Ahead
With the 2026 NFL Draft inching closer, Caleb Banks has done exactly what he needed to do in Mobile: solidify his first-round status. Teams looking for a high-upside interior defender - someone who can contribute on Day 1 and develop into a cornerstone - are going to have a hard time passing on him.
He’s not just checking boxes. He’s raising ceilings. And if his Senior Bowl performance is any indication, Banks might just be scratching the surface of what he can become at the next level.