Posted on April 17, 2008
Alvin Banks was sporting a familiar color Saturday as he watched the JMU football team scrimmage at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Visiting Harrisonburg from New York, the former James Madison running back stood on the sidelines wearing a black and purple Colorado Rockies hat with shoes to match. He also wore a long white T-shirt, jean shorts stretching to his shins, and a silver necklace with a pendant hanging near his waist.
The ornament on his necklace was a 2004 National Championship ring.
“I wear it on my chain, not a lot, but whenever I go somewhere I try to keep it with me,” Banks said, reflecting for a few seconds. “Big part of my football career.”
One that is close to reaching new heights.
Banks signed a one-year contract with the Jets on Jan. 15. It would pay him the NFL minimum of $295,000 over 17 weeks, or through the regular season, if Banks makes the 53-man roster after preseason training camp.
Dates haven’t been announced yet, but training camp will start in late July and run through August. Banks drove back to New York on Tuesday to continue Offseason Training Activities (OTAs).
He’s persistently climbing the NFL ladder.
After graduating from JMU in December 2006 following his senior football season, Banks immediately began preparations for the NFL Draft. He wasn’t taken, but was contacted by the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and New York Jets, who all expressed interest in signing Banks as a free agent.
“When we had Alvin here, I wasn’t sure he wasn’t the best receiver we had on the team,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “He could catch the ball well, he’s a good blocker – he’s a very good all-purpose back. That was what we were trying to sell to the NFL when we were talking to them last year.”
Banks decided New York presented the best opportunity with its running back situation in transition, and signed as a rookie free agent on May 12, 2007. He’s enjoyed working with incumbent running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, but it hasn’t been a wide-eyed experience for him.
“I’ve never been starstruck by anybody,” Banks said. “I’m just trying to get to where they are.”
But Banks hit a detour when the Jets waived him on Sept. 1, 2007. Out of a job, he decided to contact former JMU wide receivers coach Tony Tallent, who was in his first year as head coach of the Warren County High School football team. Tallent let Banks stay at his house in Front Royal and appointed him as running backs coach of WCHS.
In addition to helping out with the team from about 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Banks worked the 3-9 a.m. shift at UPS, loading trucks in a warehouse.
“I hated it, but I had to have a job,” Banks said.
His moonlighting lasted only a few months, as Banks was signed to the Jets practice squad Dec. 5, 2007. He practiced with the team Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, while he also participated in the walk-through sessions Saturdays with the team.
In his second stint with the Jets, Banks continued to adjust to the sizeable playbook and coaching staff, which was in its second year in New York under head coach Eric Mangini. Watching JMU’s first and second string teams square off against each other Saturday, Banks called Madison’s playbook “probably about one tenth of the playbook in New York.”
With every invitation to join the Jets in training, his situation continues to improve.
“We have a good relationship with some of the scouts and front office personnel with the Jets,” Banks’ agent Adam Van Rees said in a phone interview Tuesday. “So I just made sure to stay on them and let them know that as soon as there was an opportunity he’d be available.
“I think it’s a good situation for him. He’s back with a team where he understands the playbook, understands and knows the coaches better.”
