Know your Griz: James Banks

At each home game this season, GoGriz.com will help you get to know a Grizzly senior with a Q&A that first appears in the game day program.

On week one, we sat down with senior linebacker James Banks, who led Montana's defense with 12 tackles and 1.5 TFLs against Valparaiso.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the game day program this Saturday when the Griz host Savannah State for the first time, and meet senior safety Justin Strong.

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GoGriz.com: You've had quite the journey in college football, starting at New Mexico Military Institute as a freshman where you won an El Toro Bowl, then on to Alabama-Birmingham who disbanded their program, and now you're set to enter your senior year at UM. How has that journey prepared you to be a senior leader on this year's Griz squad?

Banks: I don't think anybody leaves high school expecting to take the path that I have had to, but I am honestly very fortunate to have done so. It placed me in some uncomfortable situations and forced me to try and make the most of them. It also allowed me to travel across the country and experience things that I normally wouldn't have with a traditional college experience. Because of this, I think I have a different viewpoint of college football than most of the other seniors, which I feel allows me to connect with my teammates in a more distinctive way.

GoGriz.com: The linebackers this year is extremely experienced with some excellent young depth backing up the starting three. How did fall camp go for your group with so many guys able to perform at such a high level?

Banks: With all three of last year's starting linebackers out during spring practice with injuries, it really helped the young guys get some extra reps and develop as players. It also helped the older guys as we were forced to be more like coaches than we were players. So when fall camp hit everybody had improved tremendously in different aspects, and we all just came together as a group even more. Normally there's some bitterness that comes along with competition, but that wasn't the case with our position group. Everybody was happy when somebody made a good play, and everybody was willing to help out when somebody messed up. It was really neat to be a part of.

GoGriz.com: As an Academic All-Big Sky performer last year, school work is obviously important to you. What drives you to succeed in the classroom, and what do you hope to do with a major in chemistry?

Banks: I would have to say my drive really comes from hating the way I feel when I slack on something or don't give my all. I've always been a perfectionist so not achieving quality grades because of a lack of effort has always been unacceptable to me. I wish I had a better answer as far as my future goes, but chemistry has always interested me, so that was my whole basis for selecting it as my primary major with business management being my secondary. I'm not completely certain of what I want to do with those moving forward, but right now I'm leaning a lot towards attending a graduate school and getting a Master's degree in something along the lines of Chemical Engineering or Materials Science.

GoGriz.com: You're also a certified private pilot. What made you want to fly planes?

Banks: When UAB football eliminated their program, I had a lot of free time on my hands, and it allowed me to pursue some of my other interests. One of them just happened to be flying. I suppose that being in control of your own aircraft and seeing the terrain from special vantage points is what makes it so intriguing to me. I've always enjoyed trying new things, and this just seemed like one that I could continue doing and improving on for the rest of my life, even after football ends.

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