RRHS defender commits to Aztecs
Banks intends to join Byrd at SDSU
Call this a virtual sweep for Rocky Long and San Diego State.
Last month, the Aztecs head football coach bagged a commitment from probably the metro area’s premier offensive talent. On Tuesday, San Diego State secured a commitment from perhaps the metro area’s most accomplished defensive player.
Rio Rancho High School defensive end Keshawn Banks gave his verbal commitment Tuesday to Long’s Aztecs, as he spurned both of New Mexico’s Division I programs. He joins Manzano’s speedster, Jordan Byrd, as part of San Diego State’s recruiting class of 2018.
“A lot of things came into play,” said the 17-year-old Banks. “Academically, they’re a very good school and that was my biggest factor.”
New Mexico, New Mexico State, Colorado State and UNLV also had extended scholarship offers to Banks, who had more D-1 offers than anyone in the area except Byrd, who had six.
Last month, Byrd gave his verbal commitment to the Aztecs.
“Me and him, we played YAFL against each other, and we’ve been close friends since we were young,” Banks said of Byrd. “He definitely helped give me insight. But his decision didn’t make me choose (SDSU). Out of all the schools, that was the best fit for me.”
Banks didn’t take an official
visit to San Diego, but he is aware of the program’s stature and the city’s reputation as one of the most popular in the country.
“It definitely helped,” Banks said of the Aztecs’ program profile, “but the location is good, the area is nice, the fans are great.”
The 6-foot-3½, 260-pound Banks is expected to sign his national letter of intent in December, but until then, he officially remains on the market. Consider Manzano pitcher Mitchell Parker, who recently did an about-face and vacated his verbal commitment with the Lobos’ baseball program to declare for Tennessee.
Banks said he was relieved to have made his decision before the 2017 season, which begins Aug. 25 for the Class 6A defending state champion Rams.
“I knew that with this early signing period in December, guys will commit a lot faster,” Banks said. “I sat down and weighed all my options with my parents, we did our research, and I came down with the decision that was best for me.”
The hometown Lobos, who lost their second major local prep recruit in a month, were “definitely high on my list, honestly,” Banks said.
But, he added, some athletes simply want to escape New Mexico and see the world, “and I feel like I’m one of those kids.”
The first day of official practices for the 2017 season is July 31. Banks is one of two highlyrecruited athletes on the Rio Rancho roster; offensive lineman Evan Tafoya-Vallo, who has three D-1 offers, is the other. UNM, Air Force and UTEP have offered Tafoya-Vallo.