Notre Dame High School receiver Auston Banks has enhanced his reputation, and he's hoping the improvement leads to a college scholarship.
As a sophomore the 5-foot-9, 180-pounder was simply a speed guy, the type who could fly down the sideline - if he got there. He wasn't much, though, on contact or elusion.
"He has worked on his skills more than anybody I've had in a long time, whether it was going to the gym or combines or working on his own," Irish coach Charles Fant said. "It's incredible the effort he's put in to get that extra 10th in the 40, the extra step, the additional weight."
Banks ran a 4.43 laser-timed 40-yard dash at the Chicago Nike Spark Clinic and then clocked a 3.84 shuttle time.
"That was two months ago, but we were told that the shuttle time was the fastest in the nation," Fant said.
Bethel University and Austin Peay have made scholarship offers and Wofford has been in to look, and Fant said he thought the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was interested.
"He had an amazing day at the Tennessee camp," the coach added. "They're considering him as an inside-receiver/scatback player, and right now he's second on list so he may be on the outside looking in. It's really wait-and-see."
Much of Banks' potential has come from the extra work.
"I'm still working on the weights. I stretch in the mornings and then work extra on my technique, catching and DB skills after practice," he said.
So life, Banks said, has been good.
"It's been going great, but I'm trying to get the recruiting started and finished," he said. "The target now? Just keep working. Everything is a lot more natural for me now, and I feel I'm more of a complete player."
- Ward Gossett
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Head coach: Charles Fant (third year; 18-7 here and overall)
Last year: 9-4; lost to Upperman in Class 3A quarterfinals
Returning starters (O/D/K): 8/9/1
2014 Schedule
(all games at 7:30 Eastern unless noted)
Aug. 22 - Knoxville Catholic
Aug. 29 - at East Ridge
Sept. 5 - at Chattanooga Christian*
Sept. 12 - Boyd-Buchanan
Sept. 19 - Bledsoe County*
Oct. 3 - Signal Mountain*
Oct. 10 - Polk County
Oct. 17 - at Sequatchie County, 8*
Oct. 24 - at Coalfield, 8
Oct. 31 - Grundy County*
- District 7-AA game
Control panel: OL/DL Joe Dossett (6-2, 265, Sr.) is the Irish's top defensive lineman and one of their most vocal leaders. When he plays offense, he's part of the group in front of QB Alex Darras (6-1, 205, Jr.), whose consistent play provides the team with a lot of confidence. The team's emotional leader is Louisville commitment WR/DB Kareem Orr, a game-changer who will show up offensively at receiver, running back and quarterback.
New producers: RB/LB William Montgomery (5-10, 230, Sr.) missed the 2013 season but has that infectious never-quit attitude. OL/DL Kobe Bragg (5-9, 250, So.) has progressed to a point that will allow Dossett to concentrate on defense, and WR/DB Caleb Edwards (6-0, 175, Fr.) has caught coaches' attention with great hands and big-play capability.
Items of interest: Senior Joe Dossett was something of a forgotten man after missing the latter part of the 2013 season with a shoulder injury. "He's been cleared for everything and he ran a 4.9 [40] at the Ohio State camp when he was up to about 280 pounds. Somebody is going to get an incredible player," Fant said. "All those Ivy League schools love him, and the [service] academies are interested. He really wants that Ivy League education."
The program's growth has forced Fant to search high and low for uniforms. The Irish have gone from 38 players in 2013 to 61 this year, and Fant has just 59 uniforms. "In the event somebody is injured we'll give that number to a younger player," the coach said. "We'll have a dress list for away games, but everybody still will travel. I look at the equipment we don't have, but once we have everybody outfitted I'll be happy."
The Irish have speed to burn with a group that includes last year's state-placing 4x100 relay team: Banks, Orr, RB/DB Ricky Ballard and WR/DB A.J. Flemister.
Since a 1-9 season in 2010, Notre Dame has had three straight playoff years with a 3-2 postseason record the last two seasons. The two-time District 7-AA runners-up reached the state quarterfinals last year.