Johnthan Banks says he is the number one cornerback

Audio/Story posted April 12, 2013 in CommRadio, Sports, NFL Draft by Patrick Woo

Picasion.com 0173eadb8b1f2e453d572b474e3a9705

The number one seems to define the last year for Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks. He could have been an early pick in last year’s NFL Draft but decided to go back for one more year.

It was one more year of improvements on the football team, one more year with his family and one more year of being a college student, he said. It was also important for Banks to be able to graduate and get his degree.

Now, as he embarks on the journey to the 2013 NFL Draft, his past year has seen the birth of his one-year-old son, one special moment and one unfortunate ending.

Banks married his long-time girlfriend from high school, Mallory, in one special moment after the season. He said he and Mallory thought it was time after the birth of their now one-year-old son.

But Banks, one of the most decorated players for Mississippi State, had his career come to an end on one play. In the Gator Bowl against Northwestern, Banks left with a leg injury in the first half.

“It was a really bad feeling,” Banks said. “That’s not the way you want to go out as a college football player.”

But he has since moved on, he says, and believes he is the number one cornerback in this year’s draft. 

“I really think I’m a first round draft pick,” Banks said. “Nobody else in this draft had the type of production that I had.”

Listen to the full interview below.

Patrick Woo is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, a ComRadio Sports Director and a NFL Draft Show Producer. To contact him, email pwoo3315@gmail.com.