Former Maryland football cornerback Deonte Banks was selected by the New York Giants with the No. 24 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The selection marked the first Terp taken in the first round since 2019, when Darnell Savage was drafted No. 22 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
A three-star recruit out of Edgewood High School, Banks shined in his four seasons in College Park. The 6-foot, 197-pound Baltimore native started at least two games in every season for the Terps. Banks started eight games his freshman year, appearing in 11, and started three of five outings in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Banks became a full-time starter prior to his junior campaign, but suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of that season. He returned to the field strong for his senior campaign, capping off his collegiate career with his best overall season.
Banks recorded a career-best 38 tackles and nine pass deflections in a career-high 12 games, also notching one interception. He finished his four seasons with 83 total tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions.
The redshirt junior shot up draft boards following an exceptional showing at the NFL combine in March. Banks graded out with an athletic score of 98, the best such score among cornerbacks according to NFL Next Gen Stats. He ranked third among players at his position in the 40 yard dash with a time of 4.35 seconds, and paced all cornerbacks with a 42-inch vertical jump.
The newest member of the Giants joins a cornerback room with Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes and 2022 third-round pick Cor’Dale Flott.
