Banks attended Glades Central High School where he was a First-team All-Conference and All-State selection as a junior and senior. He was also a team captain all three years. He helped Belle Glade Glades Central win the state high school championship as a senior. He was a three-time footballletterman and lettered twice in track.
Banks transferred to Hinds Community College where he played Wide receiver as a JUCO freshman. He played quarterback as a sophomore and helped lead the team to an 11–1 record. Hinds was ranked as high as #4 nationally. Hinds won the State Junior College title his sophomore season as he passed for 2,192 yards (third in school history for passing yards in a single season[1]) and rushed for 343 yards while recording 13 rushing touchdowns. He also passed for 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. After two seasons at Hinds, he transferred to the University of Iowa.
Banks was later named to the school's Team of the Decade.[2]
Iowa
Banks played in 10 games in 2001 and was 41-of-68 (60.3%) for 582 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 41 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Then as a senior in 2002, his first career start came in the season-opener against Akron and he started all 13 games during the season. For the season he completed 170-of-294 (57.8%) for 2,573 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He helped lead the Hawkeyes to an 11–2 record and a tie for the conference championship with Ohio State. Had Iowa not lost to Iowa State they would have been undefeated in regular season and may have been selected to play in the Fiesta Bowl for the BCS championship. The Hawkeyes finished the season #8 in the AP Poll. Also, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best Quarterback. He was named AP College Football Player of the Year, Walter Camp Foundation First-team All-America, Second-team All-America by the AP, Second-team All-America by The Sporting News, Second-team All-America by CNNSI.com. He also earned the Chicago TribuneSilver Football Award as the Big Ten Conference's Most Valuable Player. He was named the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year, one of three finalists for Maxwell Award, one of 10 finalists for Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, First-team All-Conference, a permanent team captain on offense, Co-Offensive MVP, Hayden Fry "Extra Heartbeat" Award winner. He was also selected to play in East/West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl.
In 2005 was selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Ottawa's Player dispersal draft. Then on May 16, 2007, he, along with fellow quarterback Matt Bohnet re-signed with the Blue Bombers.[8]
