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Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers need a running back to replace departed Emanuel Wilson.
They also could use some competition at the returner positions.
They could get both in New Mexico running back Damon Bankston, who will take a pre-draft visit with the Packers this month, according to a source.
The 6-0½-inch, 196-pound Bankston returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season for New Mexico, averaging 36.2 yards per return for the season.
He rushed for a modest 635 yards, but he averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. He caught 31 passes for 397 yards (12.8 average) and three touchdowns.
Bankston may not get drafted, but the Packers took note of a solid pro day in which scouts settled on a hand-held speed of 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Some had him around 4.37 seconds. In addition, he benched 225 pounds 21 times.
During the workout, he was put through numerous drills, including route running and kick returning trials.
“In the 5-10-5 drill feel like I showed my quickness, I showed my agility in the running back drills, showed that I can catch out of the receiver position (and) out of the slot,” Bankston told Albuquerque television station KRQE after his performance. “So, I just showed some versatility today, and that I can just do multiple things on the football field.
“From the scouts that I have talked to, all of the conversation was good, all of them liked my versatility, and that’s the most dynamic thing I bring to the team.”
Bankston did a little bit of everything at New Mexico after transferring from Weber State.
He shared the backfield with DJ McKinney and Scottre Humphrey, but led the team in rushing yards. He set a school record with five catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns against UNLV. His best rushing performance of the season came against UCLA, when he carried 15 times for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Bankson never carried more than 15 times in a game and had eight games in which he carried fewer than 10 times.
For the season, he had 1,466 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.
Whether Bankston has the size and blocking ability to be a regular back in the NFL remains a question mark, but it’s possible he could make his mark as a third-down back due to his receiving ability. He wasn’t used much on the goal line or in the red zone.
At Weber State, he finished sixth in school history with 2,324 rushing yards and had 22 rushing touchdowns. He averaged better than 5 yards per carry.
During his final season at Weber State, he rushed 177 times for 1,104 yards and six touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown.
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds.
Vertical jump: 33 inches.
Broad jump: 10 feet, 3 inches.
Shuttle drill: 4.32 seconds.
Three-cone drill: 6.89 seconds.
Arms: 30⅞ inches.
Hands: 9½ inches.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Running back-returner Damon Bankston to visit Packers pre-draft
Continue reading...
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers need a running back to replace departed Emanuel Wilson.
They also could use some competition at the returner positions.
They could get both in New Mexico running back Damon Bankston, who will take a pre-draft visit with the Packers this month, according to a source.
The 6-0½-inch, 196-pound Bankston returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season for New Mexico, averaging 36.2 yards per return for the season.
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He rushed for a modest 635 yards, but he averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. He caught 31 passes for 397 yards (12.8 average) and three touchdowns.
Bankston may not get drafted, but the Packers took note of a solid pro day in which scouts settled on a hand-held speed of 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Some had him around 4.37 seconds. In addition, he benched 225 pounds 21 times.
During the workout, he was put through numerous drills, including route running and kick returning trials.
“In the 5-10-5 drill feel like I showed my quickness, I showed my agility in the running back drills, showed that I can catch out of the receiver position (and) out of the slot,” Bankston told Albuquerque television station KRQE after his performance. “So, I just showed some versatility today, and that I can just do multiple things on the football field.
“From the scouts that I have talked to, all of the conversation was good, all of them liked my versatility, and that’s the most dynamic thing I bring to the team.”
Bankston did a little bit of everything at New Mexico after transferring from Weber State.
He shared the backfield with DJ McKinney and Scottre Humphrey, but led the team in rushing yards. He set a school record with five catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns against UNLV. His best rushing performance of the season came against UCLA, when he carried 15 times for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Bankson never carried more than 15 times in a game and had eight games in which he carried fewer than 10 times.
For the season, he had 1,466 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.
Whether Bankston has the size and blocking ability to be a regular back in the NFL remains a question mark, but it’s possible he could make his mark as a third-down back due to his receiving ability. He wasn’t used much on the goal line or in the red zone.
At Weber State, he finished sixth in school history with 2,324 rushing yards and had 22 rushing touchdowns. He averaged better than 5 yards per carry.
During his final season at Weber State, he rushed 177 times for 1,104 yards and six touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown.
Damon Bankston's pro day results
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds.
Vertical jump: 33 inches.
Broad jump: 10 feet, 3 inches.
Shuttle drill: 4.32 seconds.
Three-cone drill: 6.89 seconds.
Arms: 30⅞ inches.
Hands: 9½ inches.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Running back-returner Damon Bankston to visit Packers pre-draft
Continue reading...
