After a dreadful 2025 college football season for the Florida Gators, the fanbase will now get a chance to see some of the program’s top players find new homes during the 2026 NFL Draft.

While the Gators are projected to have multiple players selected throughout the seven-round draft, star defensive tackle Caleb Banks continues to be the main prospect that fans are keeping a close eye on before April.

In NFL Draft analyst Dalton Wasserman’s most recent mock draft, Banks fell late in the first round to an up-and-coming team, the Chicago Bears.

“Chicago’s path to true championship contention will require significant defensive improvement, starting with the pass rush after the team ranked 25th in the NFL in PFF pass-rush grade this season,” Wasserman wrote. “While he saw limited playing time this year, Florida’s Caleb Banks offers a high-upside edge rusher after generating more than 50 pressures across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.”

Banks, prior to joining the program back in 2023, was a standout defensive lineman for the Louisville Cardinals.

However, the star defender would eventually transfer to the Gators after spending two seasons in the ACC, which would ultimately be an outstanding move for his career.

After being a key rotational piece for Florida’s front four on defense in 2023, Banks would quickly earn a new role with the program in the following season. In 2024, the talented interior playmaker had one of his best seasons at the college level, recording 21 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games.

Unfortunately for Banks, he was unable to build off his success during his final season with the Gators in 2025.

With high expectations set upon the blossoming star heading into the year, Banks would play in just six games this past season after suffering a foot injury early in the team’s brutal schedule. Despite missing a majority of the year, Banks still finished his college career with 48 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, and 6.5 sacks.

In addition to his strong resume over the course of his five seasons in college, Banks is coming off an impressive stint at the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, as multiple analysts highlighted him as a “winner” from the event.

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