The special teams coordinator often goes overlooked. But Texas’ Jeff Banks is one of the...
AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Bert Auburn #45 of the Texas Longhorns kicks a field goal in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Austin, Texas. AUSTIN — In December of 1993, San Diego State decided to make a coaching change. This was an unfortunate development for freshman punter Jeff Banks, whose new head coach, Ted Tollner, reportedly told him he “didn’t think I had what it takes to be a major-college kicker.
The years haven’t eroded Banks’ enthusiasm, either. Now in his second year as Texas’ special teams coordinator following fruitful stays at Idaho State , UTEP , Texas A&M and Alabama , Banks remains among the game’s best at organizing kickoff coverages, identifying deficiencies in the opposing team’s punt protection and all the other little things that go into being a top-flight coordinator.
Now twenty games into coach Steve Sarkisian’s tenure, there’s a compelling argument to be made that Banks, an accomplished recruiter who also coaches the tight ends, is this program’s most valuable assistant. Banks owns a keen eye. While that’s aided him on the recruiting trail, it’s also allowed him to identify the type of player who could excel on special teams.