Banks grew up in Alameda, California, and attended El Cerrito High School.
Banks was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Notre Dame over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, UCLA, Baylor, Florida, Michigan and Miami.
He is a member of 2013-14 NCS Division 3 Champion Football Team, the first in school history.
[1][2] Banks did not play in any games as a true freshman, preserving his NCAA eligibility for an extra year.
As a senior Banks again started every game for Notre Dame and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.