Brandon Banks

Brandon Banks (born December 21, 1987) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Kansas State.

Originally coming into the league at 149 pounds, Banks is currently the lightest active player in the entire NFL since 2010.

Early years
Banks was a four-year starter and two-time all-conference selection at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina. He led the Trojans to three consecutive conferences championships and a 33–5 record over his final three seasons. He was named to the 2006 USA Today All-USA high school track and field team after posting a 10.42 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.44 in the 200 meter dash.

Junior college
As a Bakersfield College Renegade, Banks earned first-team All-America honors from JC Gridwire as an all-purpose player/wide receiver. He was also named a PrepStar JUCO All-American. He helped lead Bakersfield to a No. 1 national ranking, a 12–1 record on the season and a berth in the Southern California championship game. His 15 touchdowns set a school record.

Kansas State
Banks transferred to Kansas State to begin the 2008 season.

Banks became the second straight Wildcat to earn offensive newcomer of the year accolades after Deon Murphy took the honor in 2007. In all, Kansas State has had eight players earn conference newcomer of the year honors since 1996.

He had one of the best seasons in school history for a junior wide receiver after collecting 67 receptions for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns. He became the sixth player in school history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season and his 67 catches and 1,049 receiving yards were the most by a Wildcat junior for a single season.

Banks also contributed on special teams in 2008 as he collected 498 yards on 18 kickoff returns and five punt returns for 58 yards. His 98-yard kickoff return against Nebraska tied for the fifth-longest in school history. Banks' 1,731 total all-purpose yardage in 2008 ranks fifth in single-season school history, while his 144.2 all-purpose yards per game mark checks in at No. 8 on the Kansas State single-season records chart. He was a first team Big 12 Conference selection on special teams and he was a second team All-American his Senior Year.

2010 Season
After the 2010 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins signed Banks as an undrafted free agent on May 17, 2010. He returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in the first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 13, 2010. Against the New York Jets, however, he fumbled a return and had inconsistent play against the Baltimore Ravens, which included a second lost fumble. The Redskins released Banks on September 26, 2010, but re-signed him to the practice squad on September 29.

In his first regular season NFL game, Banks returned his first punt 51 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles which set up a Redskin touchdown. In Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers, his responsibilities expanded to include both punt and kick return duties. Banks recorded three punt returns for 47 yards and two kickoff returns for 33 yards, while a 62 yard kickoff return was negated by a holding penalty. In Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, Banks blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt by Adam Vinatieri. On October 31, 2010 against the Detroit Lions, Banks totaled 271 return yards, setting a franchise record. His 96-yard kickoff return midway through the fourth quarter was the Redskins' first kick return for a touchdown in 70 games, and the first of Banks' career. In Week 12, Banks ran a 77-yard punt return in a home game against the Minnesota Vikings for a touchdown to give the Redskins a lead late in the game, but a penalty called on Perry Riley negated the return and the Redskins lost.

2011 Season
Starting the 2011 season off slow, Banks would finally have an impressive 55-yard punt return before being pushed out of bounds in the second game against the Dallas Cowboys. In Week 14 against the New England Patriots, Rex Grossman gave the ball to Roy Helu, who then gave it to Banks; Banks then threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. The pass was the first of Banks' career. Later in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Banks took a reverse handoff for a 59-yard touchdown run, but just like his punt return touchdown in the previous meeting between the two teams in the 2010 season, it was nullified by a penalty on Darrel Young. On the next play, Rex Grossman threw an interception and the Redskins went on to lose the game.

2012 Season
During the 2012 preseason, coach Mike Shanahan announced that he expects Banks to contribute more as receiver if he expects to make the team. To prepare for the season, Banks gained an additional ten pounds. Against the Chicago Bears in the second game of the preseason, Banks returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown. In the last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught a 47-yard pass from Kirk Cousins, as well as, rushed for 43 yards on a reverse. Banks made the final 53-man roster by the start of the 2012 season after much controversy over whether or not he could contribute to the team as more than a return specialist.

After being ineffective for most of the season, Banks was put on the inactive list in the Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens as the Redskins used Niles Paul and Richard Crawford to take over his return duties.

Set to become a restricted free agent for the 2013 season, it was reported that the Redskins planned on letting Banks enter free agency with no plans to re-sign him.

Personal
Banks is known for performing the John Wall Dance as his touchdown celebration. Banks is good friends with Washington Wizards point guard John Wall with the two of them growing up together in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and both currently play professionally in Washington, DC. He has two children, Brandon Desean Banks II and Jade Anaya Banks.

Stabbing Incident
On the morning of Saturday, February 12, 2011, Banks was stabbed along with another man outside a D.C. nightclub following a verbal dispute. He was admitted to Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C with a punctured lung and was released on February 18. The other victim was admitted in critical condition. The attacker, later revealed to be Jason Shorter, was sentenced to three months of jail for the stabbing plus an additional three months for an earlier incident of carrying a firearm without a license on April 24, 2012.