Maryland CB has coveted skill

Banks made big combine splash

Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks was one of three college prospects taking top-30 visits to the Steelers on Tuesday. N.C. State safety Tanner Ingle and N.C. State guard Chandler Zavala also were at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex visiting with coaches and front office personnel.

Banks is considered one of the top cornerbacks in this draft class. He has the size (6foot, 197 pounds) and speed NFL teams covet. He ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.35 seconds and ranked first among all corners at the combine in his athleticism score. He also posted a 42inch vertical leap and an 11foot, 4-inch broad jump.

Banks’ performance at the combine vaulted him into first-round consideration. The Steelers have the No. 17 overall pick in the first round and the No. 32 pick, the first pick in the second round.

Banks started 22 games at Maryland. After his 2021 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury, Banks emerged as a top defensive back in the Big Ten last season. He had one interception and eight pass breakups for the Terrapins.

The Steelers are scouting cornerbacks hard this year with only one of the corners on their roster (Patrick Peterson) under contract beyond the 2023 season.

Ingle (5-foot-10, 182 pounds) played in 54 games during his five seasons with the Wolfpack. He had 311 career tackles and three interceptions. He is a Day 3 prospect.

Zavala is yet another interior offensive lineman to visit with the Steelers before the draft. They met with North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch last week and Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz the previous week. More guards and centers are scheduled for visits inthe coming days and weeks.

Zavala (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) played four seasons at Division II Fairmont State and at N.C. State the past two seasons. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility after his 2021 season was cut short due to an injury. He had back surgery in 2021 and also is considered a Day 3 prospect.