STARKVILLE — The answer is simple.
Johnthan Banks could have bypassed his senior season with the Mississippi State University football program and declared for the NFL draft. The 6-foot-2 cornerback likely would have had a strong chance to make a NFL roster and get paid a lot of money to play the game he loves.
But Banks showed Tuesday he loves a few people a little bit more.
One of those individuals is Keidan, his 11 month-old son. Referred to as K.J., Banks’ son is the driving force why Banks decided Tuesday to stay at MSU. The decision will give him more time to spend with his family and his girlfriend and to have quality time as a new father.
“People understand I want to play in the NFL, but the money or draft stuff had nothing to do with my decision to stay here at Mississippi State,” Banks said Tuesday. “My little boy and being with him as much as possible had everything to do what that. If I’m drafted to a team, I’d have to move away from my family, my son, my girlfriend, and my football family here. That wasn’t something I wanted to have happen yet.”
Banks. a former standout at East Webster High School in Maben, was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award last season. The annual award recognizes the nation’s top defensive back.
This season, Banks will be one of MSU’s featured athletes. His likeness already is on a promotional billboard near his hometown.
“I’ve seen the billboard, and I hope it’s something my son can see so he knows his daddy was able to accomplish his dream of going to Mississippi State and doing what he loved there. That’s what I hope it represents for him,” Banks said. “I hope if they ever take it down that maybe they’ll let me keep it for me and my family to have.”
Banks submitted the paperwork to the NFL draft advisory board last month. He wouldn’t comment on the process Tuesday after he announced he would return for his senior season in Starkville. NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline of SI.com reported Banks received a fourth-round draft grade.
“I know the support I received during the process was so great from fans,” Banks said. “I really thought they’d be mad at me for leaving or thinking about it, but they put up a Facebook page cheering me and Fletcher Cox whatever we decided to do. They said I’d be a Bulldog no matter what I decided, and that meant everything to me and my family.”
Banks has 12 career interceptions, which is tied for sixth among active players. His three interception returns for touchdowns are tied for the national lead. He tied for second in the Southeastern Conference with 14 passes defended last season.
“The excitement for John is the decision he made shows a lot of maturity,” MSU defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said. “What happens now is he’ll get an opportunity to be a possible All-American candidate on a solid football team, and those are just some of the things that make college football great.”
MSU coach Dan Mullen, who has advocated players returning to school if they aren’t projected to be a first-round selection, said Banks is making the most of his decision to stay in Starkville.
“He’s somebody the young guys can look to and say that if I work like a John Banks then maybe some of those things are what can happen for me,” Mullen said. “John is a product of you get you put out in this game and in life.”
Banks was MSU’s first Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist since Pig Prather (2001). Fred Smoot in 2000 was the only finalist in school history.
“I would love to play football for as long as I can, and my career goal of becoming a State Highway patrolman following my football career will be helped by getting my degree before I leave,” Banks said.
Banks made a name for himself two years ago as a freshman free safety when he had four interceptions in back-to-back games against Middle Tennessee and the University of Florida. Against Florida, Banks returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a 100-yard score before the end of the first half.
“I don’t want the magazine covers or the fame or whatever comes with that,” Banks said. “What I can’t wait for is coming out to practice as a senior every day because it seems like yesterday I was working my first day of practice having no idea what I was doing and if I could make it here.”
ESPN.com draft analyst Todd McShay projected Banks would be selected with the final pick in the first round of a mock draft before he pulled his name out of the process. Mullen, who is in his fourth season at the school, initially bristled and joked about Banks being a “poster child” for the Bulldogs’ 2012 season, but he said Banks fits what MSU football is building.
“When you look at what John Banks has accomplished at Mississippi State, one of the things you pride yourself on as a coach is having players that want to be part of what you’re building here for as long as they can,” Mullen said. “John has everything he’s gotten, so for him to have that spotlight and leadership role is something I hope he embraces this season.”
Banks said he’s learning how to manage his time as a student, a father, and a All-SEC football player. In addition to juggling all of those things, he said he still plans to make time to enjoy his final season in college.
“My girlfriend and her family are fully supportive of my football dreams, and they know I’m going to try and support them with professional football as long as I can, but also that if I get my degree I can provide for them for a long time,” Banks said. “Sometimes it’s hard because I don’t get to see my son as often as I like because of time requirements, but I balance it the best I can.”
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