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Zach Banner says USC is his "home away from home."
Zach Banner, the massive offensive tackle from Lakewood (Wa.) is announcing his college destination Monday afternoon at 5:15 EST. Banner stands 6'9" and weighs in at 310 pounds. Banner is the son of former NFL All-Pro tackle Lincoln Kennedy and is one of the better offensive tackle prospects in the country. Here's our take on Banner from the Top 25 Uncommitted Recruits article:
Zach Banner is yet another top offensive lineman from the West Coast The 6'9", 330-pound offensive tackle is considering much of the Pac-12, but USC is thought to hold the lead. While he didn't improve as much as some expected during his high school career, Banner is still a consensus four-star player.
Banner is choosing between a top three of Oklahoma, USC, and his father's alma mater, Washington. He is expected to declare for the USC Trojans. However, there are some around the Washington program who hope his family ties could sway him, as well as some around the Oklahoma program hoping his relationship with several OU commits and offensive line coach Bruce Kittle could help to influence his decision.
For more on USC recruiting, check out Conquest Chronicles. For more on Oklahoma recruiting visit Crimson and Cream Machine.
Offensive tackle Zach Banner of Lakewood, WA's Lakes High school, is one of the most talented prospects in the country, and he is closing in on a decision between Washington, Oklahoma and USC, he told the Seattle Times:
"It just feels good to know that I can play both there and understand that they have good offensive line coaches and good teams," he said. "I see all three of those schools competing for a national title in the next four years and that's my main focus. It's not personal stuff, like going to the NFL. It's more about the team and the national championship."
When asked about the pull of staying close to home compared to the allure of leaving, Banner said he is focused on finding the best fit.
"A lot of people say, if I don't end up going to UW, it's like I'll lose everything, I'll have to start over," Banner said. "That's not the case. I've made a name for myself as a person and a player, so if I was to go to USC or Oklahoma, I'd come back here in 20 years and set up a family here in Washington and I feel like I'd be treated the same as if I'd gone to UW. I've built that over my last four years in high school and I feel good about it."
But in a conflicting report, Banner indicated to Justin Hopkins of 247 Sports that he had not just a top three, but a top five:
"All of the five remaining schools offer great basketball," he said. "Washington has been recruiting me since I was a freshman for basketball, so I know they are sincerely interested."
The two additional schools? Michigan and Notre Dame.
Both reports are in lock-step, however, on the timing of Banner's decision -- shortly after his January 13th visit to USC.
Zach Banner Commits To USC Over Washington
Zach Banner, a massive offensive tackle recruit out of Lakewood (Wa.) Lakes High School, has committed to USC. Banner stands 6'9" and weighs 310 pounds. He holds more than 20 scholarship offers, including Oklahoma, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Oregon. Most sites rank Banner as a four-star prospect.
Banner is the son of Oakland Raider great Lincoln Kennedy. He made waves in recruiting circles as the film from his sophomore year debuted on Youtube. And while Banner perhaps has not developed quite like some have hoped, he is still a very good prospect.
Banner's size and strength are obvious from his film. And his length will give pass-rushers fits. He does need to work on his flexibility and his aggressiveness, as Banner can, at times, allow his intensity to drop against suspect competition. That won't be a problem at USC, however, as Banner will face quality competition in practice and in games.
For more on USC recruiting, check out Conquest Chronicles.
Follow @SBNRecruiting on Twitter.
Jan 30 5:40p by Bud Elliott - 0 comments