TYLER BANKS
Blackstone native Tyler Banks has graduated a semester early from the University of Mississippi, where he was a fouryear football starter for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Banks, who earned a degree in Computer Science, is the son of Joseph Banks of Blackstone and the late Kitty Banks. He is a 2022 graduate of Nottoway High School and was among 660 Ole Miss seniors to graduate in December.
Banks remains in Oxford, Mississippi, where he continues to work-out in preparation for Ole Miss’ NFL Pro Day, which is set for March 18th. “He is very optimistic about Pro Day,” his father told the Courier-Record.
The 6’ 2,” 245-lb. Banks recently became engaged to a classmate at Ole Miss, Nazli Staten, who’s studying to become a Pharmacist. “She’s a wonderful woman,” Joseph Banks told the Courier.
Banks was a four-year starter on Special Teams and served as a Defensive Captain his senior season, which was the best in Ole Miss history. The Rebels went 13-2 and reached the semi-finals of the College Football Play-offs, losing to even- tual national runner-up Miami, 31-27, on Jan. 8th. Ole Miss finished 3rd in the Associated Press’ end-of-season poll.
To begin his senior season, Banks was presented the team’s coveted Chuckie Mullins Courage Award — presented annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player that embodies the spirit of Mullins – courage, leadership, perseverance and determination. Then-Head Coach Lane Kiffin, who visited Nottoway High in 2021 to recruit Banks, made the presentation. Kiffin left Ole Miss after the regular season to become Head Coach at LSU.
The NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, PA and is set to begin Thursday, April 23rd. Banks could be a late round selection or a signed free agent. Although he didn’t start regularly at linebacker, NFL scouts are said to be impressed with Banks’ strength, speed, character, leadership, and football IQ.
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