Watch: Full Interview With UTSA LB Shad Banks Jr. From the Shrine Bowl
UTSA LB Shad Banks Jr. is a name you’ll want to familiarize yourself with ahead of April’s NFL Draft.
During the 2025 season, Banks recorded 94 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. Following a standout college career, he capitalized on his East-West Shrine Bowl appearance and is now drawing serious league interest.
Listed at 6’1 and 230 pounds, Banks is built like a compact truck and plays with zero hesitation. He dropped roughly 30 pounds ahead of the 2025 season, and the added speed and explosiveness are impossible to miss on tape.
Banks’ college career hasn’t always been easy, but it’s that perseverance and mind over matter mentality that translates well to an NFL locker room. After playing through two torn labrums in 2023 and still producing at TCU, his 2024 season was limited to just two starts as recovery and getting healthy became the priority.
Reuniting with his high school coach at UTSA, Banks bounced back in 2025 with a strong season that saw teammates gravitate toward him as a leader. Expect him to come off the board on Day 3, but don’t let that label fool you. This is where teams build depth and rotation, and Banks is a prime example of the hidden talent available in that range.
Banks spoke exclusively with Preme Sports after the Shrine Bowl as he prepares for the 2026 Draft.
From Track Star to Linebacker
Banks’ athleticism traces back long before college football. A former consecutive AAU Junior Olympic Triple Jump champion, he credits years of track and field for the explosiveness that now shows up on tape.
“Running track my whole life for sure got me fast and explosive,” Banks said. “Especially when doing all the jumps. I think it really helped me when I’m hitting someone and when I’m just going sideline to sideline making plays.”
Starting track at just 9 years old because his former coach made the whole team run it, Banks built a foundation that allowed him to move sideline to sideline and hit ball carriers with next-level explosiveness.
Wide Receiver to Linebacker
That speed and agility carried over as he transitioned from wide receiver to linebacker in 2021. “High school, I was running a lot of tunnel screens and post-go routes,” Banks joked. “Once I got to college, I realized I needed to start running actual routes, like comebacks and curls. That’s when I asked to change.”
For someone who was a 4-star receiver and transitioned to linebacker in college, it speaks volumes about his skill level. It also provides a great set of tools, as identifying schemes from body language and offensive language comes second nature to him, a skill scouts have praised. “It’s a lot of tips and tendencies that people give off on the field. They get harder and harder the better someone is. But it’s still little things that people give off later on in the game, or something that they do later that they weren’t doing earlier,” Banks said.
Banks added that TCU was “one of the only schools to let me play linebacker,” and said the biggest adjustment was becoming more vocal on the field. “At receiver, I didn’t really have to say much, maybe if someone was trying to blitz,” he said.
He also pointed to the physical side of the position: “Using my hands a lot, being violent with offensive linemen, it’s hard on your hands and shoulders. Now, it’s just natural.”
Adaptability and Locker Room Mentality
Banks’ UTSA teammates have praised his leadership, and when asked about how he plans to carry that mentality to the next level, he said, “You know, just to be a great leader, you gotta be a great follower. I think it’s really important to learn from vets and see how different vets lead.” He also explained that you have to get to know your teammates before trying to lead them, because if the chemistry isn’t there, it’s hard to get them to follow your direction.
One challenge Banks faced was constant coaching changes, which happened nearly every year in college. Reflecting on the instability, he said, “The younger me would say something like… it ruined me and my career, but me now, looking back, I mean, it really helped me grow.”
Being part of that diversity allowed Banks to learn from various coaches with different mindsets and forced him to adapt quickly, a skill that will instantly translate to the NFL. While it was frustrating at the time, he considers it another blessing in disguise and is grateful for the constant changes.
Additionally, Banks has always maintained a win-first mentality. When asked about keeping that mindset in the NFL, where egos, contracts, and personal accolades can pull in different directions, he said, “I didn’t fall in love with the game because I was losing… I mean, it’s not fun when you’re losing.” For Banks, happiness isn’t measured in checks or stat sheets—it comes from winning with his team.
Shrine Bowl Performance & NFL Pre-Draft Prep
As Banks prepares for the draft, he’s finishing up performances at the Hula Bowl, American Bowl, and capped off the East-West Shrine Bowl with a standout showing, excelling in coverage and reading concepts right off the bat. Scouts couldn’t take their eyes off him. Notably, he was an injury replacement, so for him to come in late and still stand out speaks volumes about his skill set.
When asked about his performance, Banks said, “I feel like every down isn’t promised. You get to play the game, so I just owed it to myself to go and play as hard as I could.”
Banks has met with nearly half the league in pre-draft visits, including multiple meetings with the Bears, Falcons, Lions, and Commanders. He’s confident in his abilities and ready for the next challenge. “Dog mentality. If you can ball, you can ball, so… I’ll do it,” he said.
Draft Outlook
For the draft, Banks plans to celebrate with friends and family—the same circle that has supported him from the beginning. With a unique combination of elite athleticism, on-field IQ, and a leadership mindset, teams looking to add depth and playmakers will be keeping an eye on him. While he’s projected to go on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, his versatility and skill set make him a player worth watching beyond just the draft board rankings.