Billy Napier updates status for Caleb Banks: ‘He’s hit the next step’
By Jake Faigus
Published:
The Florida Gators had a dominant Week 1 game against Long Island. They won 55-0 and looked great on offense and defense. They had 451 total yards and recovered 2 fumbles and, to top it off, they finished with zero penalties. However, it was not all great, because they were missing one of their anchors on the defensive line; Caleb Banks was not available quite yet.
On Wednesday night, Billy Napier was explicitly asked about Caleb Banks’s health to fortify that defensive line. Napier responded that he is progressing well, and the key is seeing where he is at this weekend.
“Caleb’s doing good. He’s doing really well,” Napier said. “He’s hit the next step. So he’s really close. So, we’ll see where he’s at this weekend.”
Last season, Banks finished with 21 tackles, seven TFLs, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He is also an essential leader on the defensive side of the ball for the Gators. On defense, the Gators are also waiting for redshirt freshman cornerback Jamroc Grimsley, true freshman cornerback Ben Hanks III, and sophomore defensive end LJ McCray to get healthy.
The Gators need all hands on deck for this defense against Byrum Brown and the Alex Golesh offense for the USF Bulls. Brown comes into this game after a great game to start the season against Boise State, but now the competition ramps up against Florida, especially on the road in the Swamp.
Brown is a matchup nightmare for defenses because he was accurate against Boise State and has the athleticism to outrun the entire defense. If the Gators get Banks back for this game, it would be a massive help trying to contain Brown.
