Johnthan Banks Scouting Report

Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks was the winner of the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award, following a long list of great NFL players such as Morris Claiborne, Patrick Peterson, and Eric Berry. Banks is a tall, lean defensive back who may end up transitioning to safety at the next level. There are some early concerns about his ability to cover quick and agile receivers. This position change could push him from a possible mid-first round pick all the way into second round.

Banks' best attributes are his physical style of play and exceptional instincts. He can quickly read and react in order to take away the ball or even come up with a pick as a proven ball hawk. He is very lean though and may need to add weight to properly play press-man coverage. That added bulk could compromise his limited speed, which may push him to the safety position.

Very aggressive in run support and seeks out contact. Strong blitzer. Can disengage off his blocker and seal the edge in order to force the flow of the play inside.

Short-area quickness is a problem. He will need to show scouts and coaching staff he can hold up his technique against faster competition. High football IQ helps in this area, but only to a limited extent.

Banks' stock has fallen, if only slightly since the end of the evaluation period. He projects as an early second round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.