Shad Banks Jr. — LB UTSA | 6’1”, 230 lbs
Shad Banks Jr. — Linebacker
UTSA | 6’1”, 230 lbs
Draft Projection: Round 6–7 / Priority UDFA
Role: Core Special Teamer / Developmental WILL LB
Athletic Profile: 4.4 speed | Former Junior Olympic USA triple jump champion
Overview:
Shad Banks Jr. is a high-end traits linebacker whose athletic profile and special teams value should earn him strong late–Day 3 consideration. He brings rare speed, explosive closing ability, and an attacking mindset that consistently shows up on tape. While he remains raw in some technical areas and carries medical questions, Banks has a clear early role on special teams and developmental upside as a sub-package linebacker.
Strengths:
Banks’ athleticism immediately stands out. His 4.4 speed and explosive lower-body traits translate cleanly to the field, allowing him to cover ground in a hurry and close on ball carriers with urgency. A former Junior Olympic triple jump champion, he shows sudden burst and long-speed range that few linebackers in this draft class can match.
He is most effective when attacking downhill. Banks times blitzes well, flashes active hands to slip blocks, and accelerates through gaps with real intent. His closing speed allows him to erase plays from the backside, and he shows legitimate ball-tracking ability in coverage, including the ability to recover when slightly out of position.
Banks also brings real value on special teams. At the American Bowl, he consistently impacted kickoff coverage, avoided blocks, and finished plays in space. His motor, speed, and physical temperament project him as a Day 1 contributor in coverage units.
Weaknesses:
The concerns with Banks are largely projection-based. He missed most of the 2024 season due to injury, limiting recent tape and raising durability questions. His wingspan appears shorter than ideal, which shows up when shedding longer blockers and contesting catches in traffic.
While his effort is unquestioned, his tackling efficiency is closer to average. Banks can arrive too hot, fail to break down, and leave yards on the field. His angles and play strength will need refinement before he can be trusted with consistent defensive snaps.
Production & Usage:
In 2025, Banks played all 13 games for UTSA, recording:
94 total tackles
7.5 TFLs
2 sacks
3 interceptions
3 fumble recoveries
Across his career, he surpassed 100 tackles with double-digit TFLs and consistent splash plays as a blitzer and pursuit defender. Earlier tape shows flashes rather than sustained dominance, reinforcing the idea of a traits-based developmental prospect.
Scheme Fit & NFL Projection:
Banks profiles best as a WILL linebacker in an attacking, speed-oriented defense. Early in his career, his role will come on special teams and in pressure packages, where his burst and closing speed can be weaponized. With coaching and improved tackling consistency, he has the upside to grow into a rotational linebacker who contributes on passing downs and as a blitzer.
Floor, Ceiling, and Risk
Floor: Core special teamer with roster longevity
Ceiling: Rotational WILL linebacker with sub-package and blitz value
Risk: Medical history and technical refinement limit defensive reliability early
🧸Final Bears Take:
The Bears aren’t looking at Shad Banks as a starter, they’re looking at him as:
A Day 1 special teams contributor
A speed upgrade at LB
A developmental piece who fits their defensive DNA
That’s why they keep circling back.
Banks is a classic late-round bet on athletic traits and special teams value. He won’t be asked to carry a defense, but his speed, effort, and versatility give him a real chance to stick on an NFL roster and carve out a role. For teams looking to add juice and depth on Day 3, he’s exactly the kind of swing worth taking.
Draft Range: Round 6–7
NFL Role Projection: Immediate special teams contributor with developmental defensive upside
