Friday, October 5, 2007

Banks spark plug for potent Alabama A&M offense


By REGGIE BENSON, Special to The Advocate

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Ulysses Banks had no intentions of coming to Alabama A&M. He wanted to play in the Southeastern Conference and had verbally committed to the University of Kentucky, but that was before he failed to qualify academically after a star-studded career at Parker High School in Birmingham.

Even so, Kentucky wanted to send Banks to Butler Community (Kan.) College and re-sign him two years later. That’s when Banks’ mother (Shirley) stepped in.

“My mother helped me make up my mind,” Banks said. “She told me you’re not going way up there.”

As a result, Banks landed at A&M and Bulldog fans couldn’t be happier.

After redshirting in 2005, Banks burst on the scene last season as a standout on special teams.

He led the nation in kickoff returns, averaging a whopping 34.2 yards, with 14 returns for 480 yards and two touchdowns. Banks was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, was a first-team All-SWAC selection and earned third-team All-America honors.

This season, Banks has been even better.
A month ago, in just his second career start at running back, Banks had a night to remember.

A 5-foot-8, 172-pound sophomore, Banks rushed for a Division I school record 211 yards on 19 carries in A&M’s 41-10 trouncing of Clark Atlanta. His 211 yards eclipsed the mark of Jeremiah Bonds, who rushed for 197 yards against Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 20, 2003.

“We knew we could have a big night as an offensive unit, but I didn’t know it was going to be that big,” said Banks, whose father Kenny played for the Bulldogs in the 1980s. “I’m excited about it because it’s my first 200-yard game and I’ve been playing football since I was 3.

“If I wouldn’t have done it, it wouldn’t have been right. The holes were so big that if I wouldn’t have run for 200 yards, I would have let my linemen down because they worked so hard.”

One of those linemen, left tackle Darius Turner, was mesmerized by Banks’ effort. Turner has spent the last two years blocking for Nic Luke and Ta’mar Scott, more power runners than scat backs.

“I enjoyed his running,” Turner said of Banks. “It’s not something that I’m used to. He makes my job easy.”

Banks has made it look easy so far this season.
He has rushed for more than 100 yards in three of his last four games, including 112 on 17 carries in last week’s 48-24 victory over Texas Southern. That effort earned him SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Through five games, he is second in the league in rushing (98.2 ypg) with 491 yards on just 66 carries and four touchdowns. He is averaging a league-high 7.4 yards per carry and also has eight receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Banks is also averaging 10.3 yards on three punt returns and 18.2 yards on 10 kickoff returns.

All total, Banks is averaging 172 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks him 20th in the country.

“We saw what he could do in spring ball,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “We knew he had the speed. We knew he had good vision. He’s not a big kid, so we had to be smart how we used him.”

Banks will try to continue his hot play Saturday when A&M visits Southern in an important SWAC game at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m.

Banks opened the game last season with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (the first one of his career) to spark A&M to an early lead. Southern, down 14-0, scored 21 unanswered points to take a 21-14 advantage, but A&M scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim a 28-21 victory.

Banks also had a 99-yard kickoff return against Alabama State in last year’s Magic City Classic.

“We don’t win those games without him,” Jones said. “We wouldn’t have won the SWAC championship without him.”

A&M probably won’t win it without him this season, either.

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