Louisville continues to make moves in the transfer portal, this time bolstering its secondary with a commitment from former Ole Miss safety TJ Banks.
Banks, who announced his decision on Instagram, brings size, experience, and upside to the Cardinals' defensive backfield. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he’s got the physical tools you look for in a modern safety-long, athletic, and rangy enough to cover ground while still being able to come downhill and make tackles in the open field.
He’s got two years of eligibility left, and his time at Ole Miss gave him a solid foundation. Banks appeared in 14 games this past season, including one start, and recorded 20 tackles-11 of them solo.
His most productive outing came against Kentucky in Week 2, when he notched a season-high four tackles. That kind of performance gives a glimpse of what he can bring when given more opportunities.
As a freshman, Banks saw the field in nine games and added four tackles to his stat line. While the numbers may not jump off the page, the reps he got in the SEC-against some of the best competition in college football-should serve him well as he transitions to the ACC.
Coming out of high school, Banks was no under-the-radar prospect. A four-star recruit in the 2024 class, he was ranked as the No. 23 safety nationally by the 247Sports Composite.
He had his pick of powerhouse programs, with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and more. Ultimately, he chose Ole Miss, but now Louisville is the one reaping the benefits of his next chapter.
Banks is a Tuscaloosa, Alabama native and a standout from Hillcrest High School, where he racked up accolades throughout his prep career. He was a first-team selection on the Tuscaloosa News Class 7A-4A team as both a junior and senior, and he capped off his high school run with an appearance in the Under Armour All-American Game-an honor reserved for the nation’s elite.
For Louisville, this is another strategic addition to a secondary that’s clearly a priority this offseason. Banks brings SEC experience, recruiting pedigree, and the kind of physical profile that coaches love to mold. If he can translate flashes into consistent production, he could become a key piece in the Cardinals’ defense moving forward.