From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Florida DT Caleb Banks.<\/p>\n
No. 88 Caleb Banks\/DT Florida \u2013 6-6, 335 pounds (RS-Senior)
\nMEASUREMENTS<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
Caleb Banks
\n6-6\/335
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
The Good<\/p>\n
\u2013 Prototypical size to play almost any position along the DL
\u2013 Great initial burst off the line
\u2013 Unusually nimble with great lateral quickness for his size
\u2013 Heavy hands and great play strength; capable of knocking blockers off-balance on first strike
\u2013 Uses variety of moves (spin, swim, swipe\/rip, etc.) to get penetration<\/p>\n
The Bad<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pad level could use work; may always be a struggle at his height
\u2013 Center of gravity and contact balance are inconsistent; spends too much time on the ground
\u2013 Opts to use finesse moves instead of power against the run, and works himself out of position at times
\u2013 Anchor is not as impressive as it should be at his size
\u2013 Lacks counter moves when first attempt fails
\u2013 Still learning to play at 335 pounds (entered college at or just under 300)<\/p>\n
Stats<\/p>\n
\u2013 Career: 48 total tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, one pass defensed, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
\u2013 2024: 21 total tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one pass defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
\u2013 Career snaps: 928 on defense; mostly B-gap (2, 3, 4i-technique)
\u2013 2024 snaps: 422 on defense
\u2013 PFF: 60 total pressures, eight QB hits, 13 missed tackles, 25.5 missed tackle rate<\/p>\n
Injury History<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hernia injury<\/a> forced him to miss 2024 bowl game Bio<\/p>\n \u2013 Just turned 24 years old in December Tape Breakdown<\/p>\n His quickness off the line stood out in a big way. There aren\u2019t too many 335 pounders capable of getting into the backfield this quick, and even fewer OL capable of keeping up. The only critique, as you\u2019ll see in one of the plays below, is he opts for the path of least resistance sometimes and runs himself past the play.<\/p>\n He pairs his quick feet with quick hands off the line and can make quick work of blockers with arm over or swipe-rip moves. That results in a lot of instances where he nearly makes a big play, but isn\u2019t quite able to finish. He comes into the backfield out of control sometimes, which led to his 25.5 missed tackle rate.<\/p>\n That being said, not many guys his size can execute these pass rush moves so seamlessly.<\/p>\n While he opts to use his quickness more often than not, he definitely packs a punch with his hands. He can ragdoll blockers with his first strike and has a wicked push-pull move as well.<\/p>\n The high pad level and out-of-control movements lead to Banks ending up on the turf too often. Defensive linemen can\u2019t make plays on their back.<\/p>\n He is perfectly capable of being a plus run defender but struggles with consistency in that area right now. Some of it is the high pad level and other issues I mentioned above, but he really does prefer to go around a blocker than through them. Good coaching will teach him to use power and build the rest of his innate abilities off of that.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/p>\n They don\u2019t make many like Caleb Banks. His basketball background shines through even in his transformed 335-pound DT body. If he develops well, he could become borderline unstoppable at the next level. But he may have a hard time earning trust of NFL coaches with poor pad level, issues staying in his gap, and ending up on the ground too often. Not every play has to be a highlight. The sooner he settles into that mindset, the better. He is probably at the lower range of his potential right now, but I can\u2019t overstate enough how much potential there is with Banks.<\/p>\n He looks like a less refined Stephon Tuitt coming out of college with 30 extra pounds on his frame.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Foot injury during fall camp before 2025 season, missed first two games
\u2013 Broken foot Sept. 13, 2025 against LSU required surgery<\/a>, missed the next seven games; returned for final two weeks<\/p>\n
\u2013 Three-star athlete out of Southfield A&T HS in Detroit, Michigan
\u2013 Spent two years at Louisville before transferring to Florida for final three
\u2013 Originally chose Arizona State, but decommitted
\u2013 Earned his first starts in 2023 with Florida; appeared in 34 games with 24 starts
\u2013 Also had offers from Cincinnati, Michigan, Tennessee and others
\u2013 Earned bachelor\u2019s degree in Education Sciences; named to academic honor roll multiple times
\u2013 His desire to be a zoologist<\/a> initially informed his choice of schools for football
\u2013 Named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list for excellence on and off the field
\u2013 Grew up focusing on basketball; didn\u2019t try football until high school
\u2013 Dominant performance at 2026 Senior Bowl<\/p>\n