Aaron Banks Would Have Been Notre Dame’s Left Tackle in ’21 Had He Returned
After the 2020 Notre Dame football season ended, it was widely speculated that had Aaron Banks returned to Notre Dame in 2021 for a 5th year, he would have slid out to left tackle. Banks confirmed that on Monday when he Zoomed with the media leading up to Notre Dame’s Pro Day.
“If I would have come back, I would have been the left tackle,” Aaron Banks said. Banks, Notre Dame’s starting left guard for the past two and a half seasons, technically had two years of eligibility left due to the NCAA’s free year for all 2021 scholarship football players, but ultimately decided on pursuing the NFL instead of another at Notre Dame.
“I talked to a lot of people. I asked a lot of questions – a lot of former players, what would they do if they were in my position. The consensus came back that I should leave,” Banks said on Monday. “ Three of the guys that I played with for the last three years were leaving, so I felt like it was my time to depart with them.”
As Banks noted, he is leaving with three fellow starting offensive linemen leading to a complete rebuild of the Fighting Irish offensive line in 2021. Had he returned at left tackle, it would have had a domino effect on the rest of the line. Without his return, the first domino to fall on the offensive line is Jarrett Patterson playing at tackle when he is healthy.
Banks draft projections range from 2nd to 5th round at the moment, so where he lands will be interesting. Another year on the college level – especially playing left tackle – could have potentially solidified him as more of a top-of-the-draft type prospect. Banks mentioned that he specifically talked to Sam Mustipher a lot in making his decision. Mustipher went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft but has found a home with the Chicago Bears while starting seven games in 2020.
Still, we won’t know for sure until the end of April where he ultimately lands. What we do know for sure is that the Notre Dame offensive line is going to look very different in 2021 than it did a year ago.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Wondering how high all four of the departing OL go in the draft.
So instead of Banks at LT, ND will likely go with Patterson there this fall.
I’m anxious to see what Zeke does at C, been waiting since he was recruited, so Patterson to LT should be good.
A lot of bodies on that OL. They should be able to find 7 or 8 to get ready to play. Tosh at T seems to be in the mix as Patterson recovers. Looking forward to see how the O’ takes its cues from what strengths this year’s OL show.
RBs are a strength, and the WRs are in abundance- three deep at each position – easy.
Frosh Rocco or Blake by mid-season, or maybe before?