Marcus Banks was expected to transfer to Miami, but he will stay in the SEC.
Sophomore Alabama cornerback Marcus Banks was a 2019 four-star recruit out of Houston when he committed to play for the Crimson Tide. In only a season and a half with the program, Banks totaled eight tackles and an interception.
On Nov. 8, Banks entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Experts predicted him to land in South Florida and join former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal down in Coral Gables, Florida at the University of Miami.
However, in a late-night announcement, Banks shocked many by sharing to Twitter a jersey swap of himself in a Mississippi State Bulldogs uniform with the caption “Done deal.”
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Banks and other former Alabama players as they continue their careers elsewhere.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Miami edge defender prospect Gregory Rousseau
Every NFL team wants that athletic, explosive edge rusher who can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks every time they drop back to pass.
In the 2021 NFL Draft class, there’s none better than Miami’s Gregory Rousseau.
The prototypical edge defender for today’s NFL, Rousseau recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his decision to opt out of the 2020 college football season, how he’s working to improve his pass rush moves, and what lies ahead for the nation’s top EDGE prospect.
JM: What can you tell me about your decision to opt out of the 2020 college football season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft?
GR: It was a decision that I made with the help of my family. It came down to my mom. She was a nurse that was constantly working around COVID-19. Opting out gave me the opportunity to help her retire. We didn’t want her around all that. I had to take the opportunity in front of me.
JM: She was constantly working around COVID-19?
GR: Yeah, she was basically a COVID nurse. She was taking care of COVID patients when the pandemic started.
JM: What was her experience like?
GR: It was tough for her. It’s really scary out there. She’s been around it, she’s seen it. She watched people her age pass away. They couldn’t fight it off. She was on the frontlines, and it’s definitely a scary situation. I had to help her retire early.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What’s the biggest challenge you expect to encounter with having so much time to prepare for the draft? Under normal circumstances, you’d still be playing competitive football right now.
GR: I wouldn’t say that it’s a challenge. I’m incredibly motivated right now. I’ve been working on my ability as a pass rusher. I’m working hard. I’m focused right now. I’m looking ahead. I’m gonna control the things that I can control. That’s all there is to it.
JM: What were some areas of your game that you were looking forward to showcasing this season?
GR: I really just wanted to show people that I got bigger and stronger in the offseason. That’s where my head was at. I was working on all areas of my game. You can’t get satisfied. I’ll continue to work. I was excited to showcase how much stronger I got over the offseason.
JM: That would have been a scary sight, because 2019 was obviously your best season. You recorded 15.5 sacks. Did you expect to improve in the manner that you did?
GR: Yeah, I did. I put the work in for that improvement. I put in so much work before last season. I was going to improve in 2020 as well. I was ready to go to war with my brothers. That part of opting out really sucked. I really wanted to play football this season. I did what I had to do. I went with my heart. I’m just going forward.
JM: What’s your favorite part of playing the EDGE position?
GR: We can make game-changing plays at any given moment. We can make big plays that change the whole trajectory of a game. That’s the most fun part. You can win a game with a strip-sack. You could end a drive with a sack. You could force an interception by getting a pressure on the quarterback. We have the ability to help our team out in a major way.
(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JM: What can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?
GR: I’ve been working on my scissors, which I used last year. It’s like my two-hand swipe. I learned the cross-chop from coach Chuck Smith in Atlanta. I’ve also been working on my long-arm move. I’m also trying to add the speed-chop to my repertoire.
JM: You mentioned a variety of excellent moves there. Do you have one or two that you consider a go-to? Also, how do you counter?
GR: I really like the scissors. I like that move a lot. I’m learning more moves, though. I have really long arms, so the long-arm move is a good one for me, as well. I try to use that to my advantage.
If the scissors move doesn’t work for me, I’ll probably put my hand in his chest. I might try to knock his hands off me and go back inside.
JM: What are three traits a successful edge rusher must possess?
GR: A good get-off comes first and foremost. That’s for sure. You need to have good hands, as well. Lastly, you need to be savvy. You need to have some football I.Q. about you. You have to understand the characteristics of the quarterback. What are his tendencies? Having that information goes a long way. You need to have a feel for things. You need to stay grounded. Never bite too hard.
JM: What’s the biggest lesson you learned throughout your time at Miami?
GR: They taught me to keep my head down and keep working. I started off last season on the bench. I wasn’t an immediate starter. They taught me to embrace competition. I worked hard to earn that starting spot.
It took me about 4-5 weeks to earn it, though. That experience taught me to always welcome competition. You can’t shy away from it. You can’t just sit there and sulk. Just put your head down and keep working. They definitely taught me that.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
JM: How would you describe the culture in that locker room?
GR: It’s great. It’s filled with a bunch of hard-working, blue-collar guys. They have so many good people at heart. It’s a fun team to be around. They’re goofy just like me (laughs). I’m a goofy person. We made a lot of jokes. We had fun, but we worked hard. I’m really gonna miss those guys. They’re really a great group of guys.
JM: Who would you say are the best offensive linemen you’ve ever gone up against?
GR: The tackle from Louisville, Mekhi Becton, was really good. The center at Pittsburgh [Jimmy Morrissey] was really tough, as well. I believe he’s still at Pittsburgh.
JM: The next big event in your football career will be the NFL Scouting Combine. Are there any drills that you’re looking forward to the most?
GR: I’d probably have to go with the 40-yard dash. I grew up watching my idols run the 40-yard dash on television. It looks like a lot of fun. I’m training for that one. I’m excited about it. I’m really excited.
JM: What number are you hitting on the 40 right now?
GR: I haven’t really been testing it yet. I’m trying to run it in the 4.6’s. That’s a realistic target for me. By the time I run it, I should definitely be hitting it in the 4.60’s.
JM: Are there any pass rushers that you enjoy watching tape on?
GR: I like Calais Campbell a lot. He’s so versatile. I really enjoy watching him. He has the ability to play the three-tech, the nose and pretty much everywhere on the D-line. I feel like I can do some similar things when it comes to playing multiple positions.
I also like to watch Brian Burns. He’s a local guy. He’s from Fort Lauderdale, not too far from me actually. He plays with such twitch. He has a great variety of moves. I also like to watch Nick Bosa.
JM: What’s next for Gregory Rousseau?
GR: I’m just gonna keep working and pushing towards my goals. With COVID-19 still going on, I’m blessed to be in the situation that I’m in. I have to thank the man above for giving me this opportunity. I’m ready to keep working hard. I can’t wait for the combine. I’m excited to go out there and see how I do. I can’t wait to find out which team drafts me. I can’t wait.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Miami linebacker prospect Shaquille Quarterman
Durability, production, and a motor that never stops. Three things that every NFL team wants in a linebacker prospect, and three things that Miami’s Shaquille Quarterman brings to the table.
One of the most experienced and productive linebackers in the 2020 NFL draft class, Quarterman recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, why it was important for him to finish what he started at Miami, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.
JM: You had a great senior season. You posted 107 total tackles, 15.5 of which went for a loss. What is it about your game that lead to that sort of production?
SQ: I just think that my mentality was at such a high level this year. My coaches put me in such a great position to succeed. They’ve always put me in a position to be a successful linebacker. All I had to do was go out there and do it. I really have to give all praise to our coaching staff. They helped me prepare for this season.
JM: You made 52 starts without missing a single game. It’s amazing how durable you’ve been.
SQ: I honestly just listen to my mentors: Jon Beason, Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams. All three of them played the linebacker position at such a high level, and they’ve given me such great advice. They taught me the importance of taking care of your body. They showed me that longevity and being available is the key to success. I took their advice and I just ran with it.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
SQ: It was definitely interesting, to say the least. I really enjoyed it. It was a process, and there are parts of the process that were grueling, such as waiting around for hours at the hospital for the medical checks. I really enjoyed it, though. When it finally came time to compete, it felt a little like the recruitment process in high school. You’re just going out there alongside your peers and performing in front of all 32 teams. It gave me a chance to show that I belong.
JM: What do you think is the overall impression that you left out there?
SQ: I felt like I was well-received out there. There were a lot of people that weren’t giving me that much attention prior to the combine. We didn’t have a very good season, and that can sometimes lead to a guy getting overlooked. I feel like I showed up to every event and performed at a high level. I turned a lot of heads in the bench press.
I worked my hardest all the way until the end. I think my energy remained at a high level throughout the on-field drills, as well. I had a great time getting to know a lot of the coaches. There were so many great people there.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal interviews out there?
SQ: I had a couple of informals. I enjoyed them. I also met formally with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
JM: That’s great. Do you have any private visits coming up?
SQ: I’m actually meeting with the Bills tomorrow (March 10th), and the Giants in early April. I’m taking a visit to Houston to meet with the Texans, as well. Those are the three that we currently have scheduled.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the linebacker position?
SQ: My favorite part about playing linebacker is definitely quieting the crowd down. You can do a lot of damage as a linebacker. Making a big play on defense really quiets the home crowd. I love that. If you’re playing on the road and force a turnover, that’s such a great feeling. The entire stadium minus our fans just stop making noise. They go dead silent. You can hear a pin drop. That’s such an amazing feeling. I just love making that impact on the game.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
SQ: Truthfully, I didn’t really get any strange questions. Everything was straight forward. We just talked about our defense and football in general. I had talked to a bunch of my ex-teammates who have gone through the process and they told me about all the strange questions that they were asked. I didn’t get any though. I guess I’ve been well behaved (laughs).
JM: Who are some of the best players you’ve played against throughout your time at Miami?
SQ: Dalvin Cook definitely comes to mind. I really enjoyed playing against him. He’s such a great player. Jonathan Taylor was another one. Those two guys were a lot of fun to play against.
JM: You’ve had so many great teammates throughout your time at Miami, but if you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would you bring and why?
SQ: Michael Pinckney. We’ve been together for four years straight. He means a lot to me. We came in at the same time. We’re actually from the same city. We got to finish what we started. It means that much more to us. I remember when I first got to Miami as a freshman, I was talking to an older player that told me you don’t always get to finish with who you started with. I started to realize over time that that was the honest truth.
Michael and I got to start and finish together. Michael and I stayed together through it all. We played side by side. We sat next to each other in the meeting room. We never switched it up. He’s definitely a special guy.
JM: When a team uses one of their draft picks on Shaquille Quarterman, what kind of guy are they getting?
SQ: They’re getting a guy that’s all about the team. I’m gonna follow the standard that’s set by the organization and represent them with a smile on my face. That’s what I did in high school, that’s what I’ve done at Miami and it’s what I’m gonna do at the next level as well. I’m dependable and accountable. I’m also a great football player at the end of the day. I’m all about the team. You can’t go wrong with drafting a guy like that.
