Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2011

Banks makes an impact

Wake Forest recruit has opponents running the other way.

Middle Creek defensive lineman Josh Banks has one primary job - disrupt the offense.

A 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior, he shoves linemen, stuffs blockers, smashes runners, harasses quarterbacks and creates other havoc in the interior. He does all those things well enough that he had his pick of scholarship offers before deciding to go to Wake Forest.

"I knew he was playing well against Fuquay-Varina when their linemen broke the huddle and started pointing to where we had Josh lining up," Middle Creek coach Sean Crocker said after a 48-47 win three weeks ago. "Our linemen had done the same thing last year, pointing out wherever Shawn Underwood (a Fuquay product now at North Carolina) was lined up.

"If Shawn was on our left, we ran right. Fuquay was doing the same thing with Josh. We were moving him around some, and they had to account for him."

Banks chuckled at the thought.

"The coaches moved me from inside to the end, and when Fuquay came to the line, I could hear them saying, '40 is at end.' They changed the play at the line," Banks said.

Garner coach Nelson Smith said Banks had to be accounted for on every play during the Trojans' 35-21 victory on Sep. 9.

"He is a tremendous player," Smith said. "He is very active. I can see why the college coaches like him. With him and 91 (Darius Wilkins), Middle Creek has a couple of tremendous athletes up front on defense."

Banks is a three-year starter for the Mustangs. He has size, strength and quick feet.

"You stay low, stay aggressive, play behind your pads, move your feet," he said. "I just try to mess up the offense."

His college decision was made quickly. He was thinking about Maryland, Minnesota and Wake Forest but was hearing also from Florida, Miami, Western Michigan, Ball State, North Carolina and Clemson when he visited Wake Forest and committed to the Deacons.

"The Maryland recruiter called on Friday and wanted Josh to call and asked me if Josh was close to committing," Crocker said. "I told him that it would be the fall. The next day, Josh texted me and said he was going to Wake Forest."

Banks began playing football in the seventh grade at North Garner Middle School. He was on a team with several players who are now Middle Creek teammates.

"I had always been just an average-size guy, but then I hit a big growth spurt in middle school," he said. "I loved football. I love the contact, the physicalness. But I love the complexities of football, too. There is so much to learn."

Crocker said Banks is always listening, always eager to learn and work extremely hard. One college recruiter who watched Banks in the weight room said he was one of the hardest workers he had seen, Crocker said.