Entering the 2025 season, there may be no player who will dictate the success of the Florida Gators more than Caleb Banks. Sure DJ Lagway is the most important, but given the lack of depth at defensive tackle the play of Banks is going to be massive in 2025.
And Florida is fortunate to have Banks as he could have bolted for the NFL, and he explained his decision to come back during SEC Media Days.
Caleb Banks back for 2025
Banks was asked an array of questions while in Atlanta, including his thoughts on Lagway as well as some former teammates who have since transferred.
But he was also asked about returning for 2025 and whether the chance to play with Lagway had anything to do with that:
"It wasn't just DJ Lagway, it was the whole entire team. I wanted to come back and play with my guys and be the first male in my family to graduate, first generation to graduate. I felt it was very important. And to come back get a national championship and of course have a higher draft stock for the NFL in the future."
He was also asked about his draft stock and what he feels he needs to do in to boost it in 2025:
"My run game. I think my run game will be the biggest thing for me this year. My pass rush.
Honestly, everything. My pad level, I think I can improve in everything. There's always room for improvement. Just got to keep going."
The hope for Banks, and for Florida as a whole, is that he can harness his performances against LSU and Ole Miss and parlay that into an entire season.
Banks had 29 total pressures in 2024, 20th best among defensive tackles. Fifteen of those pressures came against LSU and Ole Miss, as well as 3.5 of his 4.5 sacks came in those two games.
Keep up that pace for an entire season, and Banks will easily find himself as a first-round pick come April of 2026.