A lot has happened for Johnthan Banks over the years that took him from Webster County to the top of college football and now to where he is today.
Banks started in extremely humble beginnings and he never forgot the people that got him to the top. The humility is a big reason why he’s decided he wants to give back to the game and has begun his coaching career.
Raised by his grandmother, Banks credits the values she taught him. Being grateful and helping others is what is in the heart of the rising coach. This year will be his first at Heritage Academy in Columbus as he assists new head coach and former Bulldog Tobias Smith coaching on the defensive side.
“I was put on this earth to help people. I think it’s my calling,” Banks said. “I know how to reach the kids and get to the kids like nobody else. I just keep it real with them. I’ve been at Heritage for three weeks and I have a really good relationship with those kids. It’s great, I love it.
“I have had some opportunities to be a head coach, but I’m not ready for it. I have a different lifestyle and being a head coach you have to be super committed. I like working for good people like Tobias who is one of my best friends and college roommates. I’ve always had good people in my corner and people that have my back.”
A couple of the people that were most instrumental in helping Banks along the way came from his high school at East Webster. Coaches Jimmy Carden and Doug Wilson were a major part of his life and they sent him off to Mississippi State where he found his biggest coaching influence.
It wasn’t Dan Mullen who made the biggest impact on Banks, though Mullen and his staff were huge in his development. Banks gives the credit to the man that was in the trenches with the team on a daily basis in the weightroom.
“The most important person in college football is your strength coach. We had the best leader I’ve ever had in my life in Matt Balis. He’ll teach you how to be a grown man from day one. I’m so appreciative of him. He changed my life for the better. Hard work, fighting through adversity, dealing with stuff when times are hard, learning how to handle success. … He taught us all of that,” Banks said. “At one point in time, he was an assistant to the head coach. Besides my grandma, he was the most influential person in my life.”
There were many difficult days for Banks early in his career. He came to the Bulldogs in 2009 during Mullen’s first year and was just over 160 pounds. He went from a superstar for the Wolverines to just another face in the crowd early on.
Quickly, he was impressing Mullen and his staff with his athleticism in the secondary. It was becoming apparent he was going to play in year one and the pressure started to mount. There were days where he wanted to leave.
“It was hard. I came in with little to no expectations to play as a freshman. I got there and I was a little different. People in Webster County are built a little different. My expectations started to grow a little bit. Coach Mullen started to put a little more on me and it got hard. I’m a freshman, I weigh 160 pounds and they’re asking me to go out there and go against guys that are going to be first and second round draft picks,” Banks said.
“I had a great family and great people from this community that were helping me. They always stayed by me and still to this day, I’m little Banks to them. I always appreciated the people here and the support I had here. A lot of my friends were Ole Miss people but when I went to Mississippi State, they rooted for me.”
In year one, he would play in all 12 games with 33 tackles, seven pass deflections and four interceptions. It was clear that the Bulldogs had a future star on their hands with No. 13.
Banks introduced himself to the college football world when MSU welcomed in the National Champions of Florida and Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. Just before halftime with the Gators threatening, Banks intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. He ran another one back against Tebow in that game and those became his favorite moments of his playing career at MSU.
Something else took home the cake as his favorite moment, however.
“My number one (playing) moment, obviously, would be picking off Tim Tebow twice. But my biggest moment would be my son being born the summer of my senior year and coming to his first game,” Banks said. “We played South Carolina. I had a pick and broke up another pass. I had a great game and I can remember it like it was yesterday.”
Banks went on to play in 51 games for the Bulldogs in his career. He made 221 tackles, had 42 pass deflections, made 16 interceptions, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
He tied Walt Harris for the MSU record for career picks and goes down as one of the greatest at his position. He also started a string of MSU corners going to the league with Darius Slay that was followed by Cameron Dantzler, Martin Emmerson and Emmanuel Forbes. The latest one might be the best of all in his eyes.
“Forbes is one of the best football players that has ever played at Mississippi State,” Banks stated. “I’m glad he left. One more game and my records would have been over. My son loves football, and he told me if (Forbes) comes back he’s breaking my records. His game is different. Dude is 160 playing college football. He’s a great tackler that could cover, was super-fast and could block kicks.
As Banks’ impact at MSU still stands strong, he’s a reminder of the great talent that the state produces that can often go overlooked in recruiting.
He went from a small school from Cumberland to becoming a Thorpe Award winner. He believes MSU has been built on players just like him and will continue to thrive with them.
“We have a lot of talent. I’m appreciative of Mississippi State for being able to recognize, notice and acknowledge that talent,” Banks said. “Everybody wants that four- and five-star talent. I want those guys that work at the hay field, go pick cotton in the summer, go work at grandaddy on his farm. Those are the type of guys that I want. They know how to win and work hard.”
