2017 Four-Star OL Aaron Banks Commits To Notre Dame
Notre Dame wanted to add at least one more offensive lineman to the mix before closing out the 2017 class. The staff found its man in El Cerrito (Calif.) High four-star tackle Aaron Banks.
The 6-7, 335-pound Banks committed to the Irish Friday afternoon during a ceremony at his high school. He picked Notre Dame over Michigan, UCLA, Cal, Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee. He is the 18th member of the class and the 11th four-star prospect.
Banks has been very quiet throughout his recruitment process and made sure to not to tip his hand on where he was leaning. As the decision drew near, it was still unclear the direction he may go to continue his student-athlete career.
Brian Kelly and Harry Hiestand scored a major victory by pulling Banks from the West Coast. It started with an unofficial visit to South Bend in August where Banks was impressed by the Hiestand’s presentation and Notre Dame as a whole.
“They just seemed to have a solid foundation and I got along well with the lineman that are there now,” Banks told Blue & Gold Illustrated after his unofficial visit. “I really liked it. … They really seem like a family and I like that.
“He just took me through a regular day and just showed me what they go through day to day. [He] gave me info and facts about the place and him as a coach. … I like that he kept it 100 and didn’t have to go all out and throw a party to impress me.”
Banks returned for an official visit Sept. 17 during the Michigan State game and again was impressed this time by the atmosphere surrounding a Notre Dame game and during the game itself.
“Their crowd was crazy,” Banks told Blue & Gold Illustrated in September. “[It shows me] they have tradition and their fans are loyal.
“Meeting with the athletics director [Jack Swarbrick] and administration was the only thing I didn’t see before. [Those meetings] went well. The whole thing was a good experience.”
Adding Banks to the mix gives the Irish its third four-star tackle joining Rivals100 tackle Robert Hainsey of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny tackle Josh Lugg. Banks is currently ranked as the No. 14 tackle and No. 112 overall player nationally.
Hiestand saw Banks both last week and this week for an in-home visit with Kelly taking part of the first trip to El Cerrito. The Irish staff put a ton of effort into landing Banks and it paid off in the end.
Banks is scheduled to be an early enrollee. He also took official visits to Michigan and Oregon.
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