#69 Aaron Banks
Hometown Alameda, CA
High School El Cerrito
Associated Press All-America First Team
Sporting News All-America Second Team
ESPN All-America Team
All-ACC First Team
Associated Press First Team All-ACC
Joe Moore Award Finalists
ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week vs. Clemson (11/7)
Outland Trophy Watch List
Preseason All-ACC Team
Pro Football Focus Preseason All-ACC First Team
Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team
Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll (Offensive Line – 2019)
SENIOR SEASON (2020)
DUKE: Started in the season-opening win over Duke (9/12). With the performance in the season opener, the Irish ranked first in the ACC (and 11th among all FBS teams) in tackles for loss allowed. Notre Dame succumbed to just five TFL; the Irish took home Pro Football Focus' Offensive Line of the Week award after the season-opener vs. Duke, producing the highest-combined pass-block grade of any offensive line that week.
SOUTH FLORIDA: Started in the 52-0 win vs. South Florida (9/19) for an offensive line that allowed zero sacks on Irish quarterbacks and paved the way for six rushing touchdowns, the ACC's most in a single game at that point in the season. With its performance, the O-Line was Pro Football Focus' top-rated offensive line of the week for the second week in a row; Notre Dame's 281 rushing yards were the most by any ACC team that week, and only one ACC team had posted more rushing yards in a single game previously that season. The 6.2 yards-per-rush by Notre Dame vs. South Florida ranked as the most that week and second-most in a single game that season at that point; Notre Dame posted 16 rushing first downs vs. South Florida, the most in a single game at that point in the season by any ACC team. The Irish converted both fourth-down attempts vs. South Florida.
FLORIDA STATE: Started for an O-Line that allowed zero sacks, paved the way for 353 yards rushing, four rushing TDs, totaling 554 yards of total offense in the win vs. Florida State (10/10); the Irish rushed for 353 yards total, with two different players reaching the 100-yard mark. Prior to the contest, Florida State had allowed just 141.3 rushing yards per game; the last time Notre Dame had two players with more than 100 yards rushing in a game was in 2017 vs. Southern Cal (Josh Adams and Brandon Wimbush), and the last time the Irish posted more than 300 yards rushing was in 2019, also against Southern Cal; moved to left tackle to replace Liam Eichenberg for a short period while Eichenburg was sidelined for an injury; Notre Dame averaged 8.4 yards-per-carry vs. Florida State, the third-highest single-game figure in the ACC this season.
LOUISVILLE: Entering the game, Louisville had allowed just 156.8 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame rushed for 232 rushing yards, earning Kyren Williams his third 100-yard performance of the season. In the win, the offense held the ball for a whopping 36:15, including an impressive 7:55, 57-yard drive to finish out the fourth quarter and preserve the win. In all, the Irish had seven offensive drives on the day, and four of those drives took five minutes or more off the clock. The Irish boast the second-highest rushing offense average in the ACC (261.0 yards per game), and have allowed the second-fewest sacks on the season (seven) in the ACC.
PITTSBURGH: Started for an O-Line that paved way for 434 yards of total offense and 115 rushing yards (two rushing TDs) in the 45-3 win at Pitt (10/24). Notre Dame's 115 rushing yards were the second-most Pittsburgh has given up in a game this season. Entering the game, the Panthers allowed just 61.5 yards per game, the ACC's best rushing defense. Notre Dame's two rushing touchdowns against Pitt marked the first time the Panthers have allowed multiple rushing touchdowns in a single game since October 5, 2019 vs. Duke.The Irish held control of the ball for 40:59 minutes of possession time, the most by an ACC team in a single game this season, and fifth-most in a single game among all FBS teams this season.
GEORGIA TECH: Started for an O-Line that helped the Irish post 227 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the 31-13 win at Georgia Tech (10/31), climbing to second in the ACC in rushing offense (231.0 yards per game). Notre Dame ties for the lead in the conference in fewest sacks allowed with just 11 total. Entering the game, Notre Dame was averaging 34:11 time of possession, a figure which led the ACC. At Georgia Tech, the Irish posted 36:54 minutes, controlling the ball for 12:13 in the first quarter alone. It marks the third-consecutive game in which the Irish have controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes. At Georgia Tech, Notre Dame was 10-of-15 on third downs. Entering the day, the Irish led the ACC in third-down conversion rate at 52.2.
CLEMSON: Started for an offensive line that paved way for 518 yards of total offense (208 rushing with three touchdowns, 310 passing with one touchdown) in the 47-40 2OT win over then-No.1 Clemson. Entering the game, Notre Dame was averaging 34:11 time of possession, a figure which led the ACC. The Irish have now won the time of possession battle in six of seven games this season, posting 30:22 minutes that day. The Irish posted 208 rushing yards against Clemson, which, entering the game, had allowed just 99.9 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame's three rushing touchdowns doubled Clemson's season total of rushing touchdowns allowed (was three entering the weekend, after totals six). The line made it possible for Ian Book to pass for 310 yards against the ACC's then-second-ranked passing defense, as Clemson entered the day allowing 174.9 passing yards per game.
BOSTON COLLEGE: Started for an offensive line that paved the way for 561 yards of total offense (278 rushing with three touchdowns, 283 passing with three touchdowns and zero sacks) and 34:27 time of possession in the 45-31 win at Boston College (11/14). Boston College entered the game allowing 373.0 yards of offense per game. Through the first half alone, the Irish racked up 327 yards, and ended the day with 561 yards. Notre Dame's 561 yards of offense at Boston College were the most this season for Notre Dame, and the most by an Irish team since their 573 vs. Bowling Green in 2019. The offensive line allowed zero sacks on the day facing a Boston College defense that entered the day averaging 2.75 sacks per game on opposing QBs.
NORTH CAROLINA: Started for an offensive line the paved the way for 478 yards of total offense (199 rushing with three touchdowns, 279 passing with one touchdown), and 35:04 time of possession in the 31-17 win at No. 19 North Carolina. Entering the game, Notre Dame was averaging 34:05 time of possession, a figure which led the ACC. The Irish posted four touchdown drives of at least 75 yards, including a season-long 97-yard scoring drive. Notre Dame's 199 rushing yards tied for second-most in the ACC that weekend.
SYRACUSE: Started for an offensive line that paved the way for 568 yards of total offense (283 rushing with three touchdowns, 285 passing with three touchdowns) and 33:50 time of possession. Notre Dame's 568 yards of total offense were the most in the ACC that week, and ranked fourth among all Power 5 teams on the weekend. It was the fourth time this season Notre Dame's offense has surpassed 500 yards of total offense in a single game, and it marked the most by an Irish team since 2019 vs. Bowling Green (573). It was the most by the Irish against a Power 5 opponent since 2017 vs. Wake Forest (710). Entering the game, Notre Dame was averaging 34:12 time of possession, a figure which led the ACC. Accumulating 33:50, the Irish won the time of possession battle in the ninth game this season. Notre Dame was one of just two ACC teams with multiple 100-yard rushers on the weekend (Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree), and the only winning team in the ACC to reach the feat. Notre Dame was one of just four FBS teams to boast two players with 109 rushing yards or more on the weekend.
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP: Started for an offensive line that helped the Irish win the time of possession battle for the 10th time this season (out of 11 games), totaling 31:52. The Irish continue to lead the ACC and rank eighth in the FBS in time of possession, controlling the ball for 33:57 minutes of game time. Behind its powerful offensive line, Notre Dame won the time of possession battle in 10-of-11 games this season. The 33:57 time of possession average leads the ACC by more than two minutes per game.
JUNIOR SEASON (2019)
Started all 13 games on the season, earning the second-highest pass-block grade on the offensive line from Pro Football Focus (83.5)
Helped the Irish offense rank 13th nationally in scoring offense and 11th in sacks allowed
Had his top PFF grade of the season in the Camping World Bowl victory over Iowa State (81.9 overall, 86.8 pass block)
Allowed just two sacks on 844 total snaps
Played in all 13 games while starting the last six contests of the year
Made first career start against Navy
One of 11 scholarship freshmen, five on offense, who spent the season on the scout team and did not see the field
Joined WR Jafar Armstrong, QB Avery Davis, OL Dillan Gibbons and OL Josh Long as rookies who helped the Irish on their offensive scout team
Enrolled at Notre Dame and began taking classes in January
Participated in 2017 spring drills with the Fighting Irish
Widely considered the top offensive line prospect in Northern California
Paved the way for an El Cerrito offense that averaged 29.4 points/game
Helped El Cerrito reach the second round of the 2016 CIF-North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs
Named 2016 American Family Insurance First Team ALL-USA California
Awarded 2016 MaxPreps First Team All-NorCal
Named to the 2016 Mercury News, East Bay Times First Team all-Bay Area Prep squad
Awarded 2016 First Team San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro
No. 163-ranked overall player and No. 9 offensive guard by Scout.com
No. 171-ranked overall player and No. 18 offensive tackle by 247Sports.com
No. 278-ranked overall player and No. 28 offensive tackle by ESPN.com
No. 121-ranked overall player and No. 13 offensive tackle by Rivals.com
California's No. 17-ranked player by Scout.com, No. 20-ranked player by 247Sports, No. 28-ranked player by ESPN and No. 16-ranked player by Rivals
No. 135-ranked overall player and No. 29-ranked offensive lineman by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report
Four-star member of the PrepStar Top 300 Dream Team, ranked as the No. 127 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 19 offensive tackle
Played for coach George Austin at El Cerrito High School
Enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in film, television and theatre