V.J. Banks

Photo by: Todd Drexler/SE Sports Media

Position:
Cornerback
Height:
6-0
Weight:
200
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Bryan, Texas
High School:
Travis Bryan HS
Prev School:
Rice

2018 (RS-Senior): Played in 11 games and started 10, making 27 tackles (18 solo), including 3.0 TFL (-7 yds.) ... led the team with 3 interceptions and added 4 pass breakups in his lone season with the Rams after joining the Rams in the spring of 2018 as a graduate transfer from Rice ... finished career with 99 tackles, including 4.0 TFL, 5 interceptions and 10 pass-breakups ... earned Academic All-Mountain West and was honorable mention Academic All-Colorado by the Colo. Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Recorded his first interception of the season on the first play of the second quarter vs. Colorado in Denver (Sept. 1).
Logged 3 tackles (2 solo) in win over Arkansas (Sept. 8).
Had his second interception of the season at Florida (Sept. 15), at the 4:26 mark of the first quarter, giving the Rams the ball back at their own 32-yard line.
Tied then-season high with 3 tackles--for the sixth game in a row--including a tackle-for-loss, at Boise State (Oct. 19).
Had a season-high 5 tackles, including 1.0 TFL, and an interception at Nevada (Nov. 10).
Caught an 11-yard pass from punter Ryan Stonehouse to complete a successful fake punt for a first down in the fourth quarter vs. Utah State (11/17).

2014-17 (at Rice): Played 36 career games with the Owls, totaling 75 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defended.

Started two games in 2017 before a leg injury forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Made 11 starts in 2016, recording 37 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble.
Had 28 tackles in 12 games in 2015.
Played 10 games as a true freshman in 2014, registering three tackles and an interception.
Earned academic honors at Rice as well, and was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL: First team All-District 14-5A as a senior for coach Ross Rogers and also named district return specialist MVP... Second-team All Brazos Valley... Finished senior year with 50 tackles (two for loss), broke up six passes and intercepted another... Hauled in five career interceptions on defense while catching 45 passes for 731 yards and five scores on offense... All-district selection in basketball and regional qualifier in high jump... Academic All-State in basketball as a freshman and in football as a senior.

PERSONAL: Born May 2, 1995 in Baton Rouge, La. ... parents are Vernon and Mary Banks ... received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Rice University.