A broken foot may have kept Caleb Banks from participating at Pro Day, but he is still making sure teams do not forget about him.
GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- As he did for most of his senior season, Caleb Banks watched from the sidelines as his now-formerin which he suffered a crack in his fourth metatarsal – Banks is letting his personality shine for the time being.
He also made it clear that he does not believe his draft stock will suffer too much as he undergoes an eight-to-twelve-week recovery. "I don't really think too much about that," he said on Thursday. "I'm staying grounded, like, it happened, it happened. My story's already written. I'm kind of just taking it day by day. Wherever I land, that's where I'm supposed to land. So I'm not too bothered by it." Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks to the media during Pro Day. | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Entering his senior season, Banks was considered one of the top defensive linemen in the entire 2026 NFL Draft, but a foot injury at the end of 2024, another in fall camp and another in the Week 3 loss to LSU limited him to just three games as a senior. Most would be disheartened. Banks was fired up. Florida was already ineligible for a bowl game when he returned in its loss to Tennessee. He could have sat out of its season-finale against Florida State, but the chance to play spoiler against a rival while also finishing out his career with his teammates was too good an opportunity to pass up.week and during the NFL Scouting Combine. Little did anyone know that he broke his foot the night before running a 5.04-second 40-yard dash with a 32-inch vertical and nine-foot-six-inch broad jump."It's fun until you gotta fly. I don't like airplanes," he said."I don't care where it is, XFL, NFL, I don't care," he said. "I want to get off this damn scooter and go play football."During the combine, Banks had a viral moment where he said he would "put my head down and I just go run through a mother****er's face," when asked about how he handles his business on the field. That competitiveness has him standing out from the sidelines as teams ponder whether or not to take a chance on Banks in the draft despite his injury history."I'm a big guy to compete all the time, no matter what it is," Banks said. "Rock, paper, scissors. I'll play one of y'all right now. I promise you I'm gonna win." Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks runs the 40-yard dash on a broken foot during the NFL Scouting Combine. | Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesBanks detailed the latest injury, saying he felt a pop the night before his session at the combine and initially thought it was a "muscle injury." He felt it again after running his first 40-yard dash. After pushing through his second attempt and trying the other drills, he decided to sit out due to the discomfort."I'm not thinking too much about it. I'm not even asking," Banks said of his conversations with teams regarding his injury. "Teams are telling me, like, 'You're a great player,' and all that type of stuff. But I'm just, I'm not really thinking too much about that type of stuff right now."Before his latest injury, Banks was considered a surefire first-round pick despite missing most of 2025. Now, it is not a guarantee, even withBanks said he has already done 30 Visits – NFL teams are allowed to host up to 30 prospects for a visit before the draft – with the Chiefs, Ravens and Cardinals, and has visits lined up with the Lions, Titans, Broncos, As of now, no specific team stands out to Banks, but one to watch will be Detroit, Banks' hometown team. In the meantime, he doesn't care which team takes him. He is just looking forward to hearing his name called. “It will mean everything for me. Honestly. It's gonna mean a lot," he said. "Been through a lot. Dealing with the injury and everything, coming from where I came from at Louisville and in Detroit. It’s definitely going to mean a lot to me.”Cam Parker is a reporter covering the Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers and Clemson Tigers with a degree in journalism from the University of Florida. He also covers and broadcasts Alachua County high school sports with The Prep Zone and Mainstreet Daily News. When he isn't writing, he enjoys listening to '70s music such as The Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd, binge-watching shows and playing with his cat, Chester, and dog, Rufus.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Budding 'Iceman' Trademark Dispute Between Caleb Williams and George Gervin, ExplainedWithin days of one another, both stars filed trademarks related to the 'Iceman' moniker.
Read more »
The USSR’s Cautionary Tale of Letting Politics Rewrite ScienceTo understand our future under RFK Jr.’s policies, look to the past, writes Dr. Morgan Goheen.
Read more »
Spurs launch AI Studio, letting fans create personalized NBA-style tunnel arrival videosSAN ANTONIO – Spurs fans can now transform themselves into personalized, player-style arrival moments.The San Antonio Spurs has launched Spurs AI Studio and has
Read more »
Major airlines are letting some passengers who missed flights amid TSA madness rebook for freeThe Department of Homeland Security told Congress on Wednesday that a funding standoff that has forced 50,000 airport security officers to go without pay has caused delays at airports and is posing major security risks.
Read more »
Caleb Foster steadies Duke in return as Blue Devils beat St. John's 80-75, advanceCaleb Foster returned from a broken foot and rescued Duke's national title hopes, helping the top-seeded Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit t
Read more »
Caleb Foster steadies Duke in return as Blue Devils beat St. John's in March MadnessCaleb Foster returned from a broken foot and rescued Duke’s national title hopes, helping the top-seeded Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat St. John’s 80-75 and advance to the Elite Eight. Playing less than three weeks after surgery on his left foot, Foster scored all of his 11 points in the second half.
Read more »