There aren’t a plethora of elite players on Tennessee’s roster. That’s just something a rebuilding program has to deal with as it upgrades its roster.

Linebacker Jeremy Banks would certainly be considered one of the elite players for the Vols and there’s still plenty of upside for the Cordova, Tenn., native as he enters his junior season.

“I’ll say this, until he gets a gold jacket, everybody can get better,” Tennessee linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary said, referring to being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. “I think with his maturity—which I think he’s grown in leaps and bounds since I’ve gotten here—and playing under control, he’s done that in these first three practices. That’s been impressive. 

“Jeremy is not always going to be the most vocal leader, but he does lead by example. He kind of does predict the temperature of the team. I think when he comes out and has the right type of energy and juice, the whole team feeds off of that.”

College football analyst Chris Landry of Landry Football agrees wholeheartedly. He’s certainly seen some great linebackers as an assistant to New England Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick and a scout for Alabama’ coach Nick Saban.

“I think he’s got a good future both in college and beyond,” Landry said. “He’s rangy. He’s very athletic. He takes good angles.”

Banks was one of the few bright spots for a defense that struggled under first-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, who was busy focusing on an explosive offense. The tempo at which Tennessee plays will always stress its linebackers, force the Vols to play more players overall and could decrease Banks impact since he can’t be on the field as much. That’s not good for the Vols.

“I thought. last year, with Tennessee’s linebackers, with the injuries, the transfers, the inexperience,” Landry said, “I thought it really limited what they could do and what they called defensively.”

Tennssee’s needs from Banks will change this season. Banks was a “clean-up” tackler last season, as evident by his 128 tackles, which was second-best in the SEC. His 9.85 tackles per game were 12th best in the nation in 2021.

“I think he plays with a lot of intensity,” Landry said. “I think the real key for him is to be able to direct that defense a little bit more.”

Directing the defense means that Banks’ teammates follow direction from him and Tennessee’s coaches. For Banks to hit another level, his teammates have to improve.

“The play around I think is really important,” Banks said. “I thought he freelanced a lot. I think doing things a little more within the context of how they want to run their defense (is the next step).

“He’s a playmaker. That’s not going to change.”

That playmaking saved the Vols countless times last season. Banks had no peer when it came to comprehending what Tennessee was trying to do defensively.

“He was the one guy who had a good feel for what they were doing.” Landry said. “They allowed him to freelance more, which is good and, at times, is not so good. 

“When you’ve got a little bit more experience alongside of you, you can do a little more where other guys are making plays and your name isn’t getting called as much, but your overall defense and your overall play is better and more consistent.”

Banks, understandably, left his assignment at times to cover up for a befuddled teammate. Eventually, opposing offensive coordinators will pick up on Banks not playing his assignment, meaning he’ll become the liability. 

“Sometimes it’s only human nature in football to go out and make a play where the key to great defense is to not go out and make a play.” Landry said. “It’s to fulfil your assignment, take care of your gap, take care of your responsibility and trust your teammate.”

Banks has received the preseason accolades that one would expect after how he played last season. He’s All-SEC by most and a Butkus Award Preseason Watch List candidate. That award goes to the best linebacker in the nation.

Can Banks be that good?

“If he keeps going in that direction,” Jean-Mary said, “expect for him to have a big year in every aspect as a stack (run-stopping) linebacker, a blitzer and a coverage linebacker because he has that kind of ability.”