Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks is one of those players NFL scouts were taking a good look at during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On Thursday, though, Banks made a unique decision to call it a day at the Combine. There was an issue involving Banks’ shoes, which prompted the NFL world to react to his decision.
NFL World Reacts to Florida’s Caleb Banks Leaving Combine
As to specifically why Banks decided to leave, the NFL Network’s Stacey Dales offered a reason for his departure in a post on X on Thursday afternoon.
“As I reported on air, Florida DT Caleb Banks is finished on the field at the Combine,” Dales wrote. “He told me his cleats were irritating him. Told me he’ll pick things up at Florida’s pro day which he said is March 26.”
The 2026 Florida Gators Football Pro Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, as Stacey mentioned in her post as well.
As I reported on air Florida DT Caleb Banks is finished on the field at the Combine. He told me his cleats were irritating him. Told me he’ll pick things up at Florida’s pro day which he said is March 26.
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) February 26, 2026
SleeperCFB’s account on X offered more details on Banks’ departure and what this might mean for NFL scouts taking a closer look at him down the road.
“Florida DL Caleb Banks (Projected Round 1-2) is done testing early at the NFL Combine because his ‘cleats were giving him trouble’ per the broadcast,” SleeperCFB posted. “Banks only appeared in 2 games in 2025 something to keep an eye on.”
Florida DL Caleb Banks (Projected Round 1-2) is done testing early at the NFL Combine because his “cleats were giving him trouble” per the broadcast
Banks only appeared in 2 games in 2025 something to keep an eye on đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/ETh3Pl4XKW
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) February 26, 2026
NFL writer, insider, and draft expert John Frascella reposted SleeperCFB’s post on X and added his own comments. Frascella wrote, “‘Cleat issues’ for Caleb Banks… done testing at The Combine… umm…”
PFSN’s director of media partnerships, Jacob Infante, offered some insights into what this might mean for Banks in the long term.
“This doesn’t change much about how I view Caleb Banks,” Infante wrote. “He’s coming off of a serious foot injury, so it makes sense he’s naturally more hesitant to risk a safety issue. Banks dominated to the tune of a 9.84 RAS at the Combine; he proved what he needed to in Indianapolis this year.”
PFSN’s NFL Draft analyst Ian Cummings added his two cents after seeing Banks depart the Combine on Thursday.
“The best thing Caleb Banks could’ve done at the NFL Combine was verify his high-level tools and athleticism, and he did that,” Cummings wrote.
“We didn’t get to see him do full field drills or agility testing in a controlled environment, so the pro day numbers may come with a grain of salt, but it’s also understandable that he’d err toward comfort with his recent foot issues.
“We know he’s uber-talented and we know what he needs to work on,” Cummings wrote. “Now it’s up to teams to discern from that information how high a pick he’s worth.”
Banks started his college football career at Louisville, then played the last three seasons for the Gators. In limited action in the 2025 college football season, Banks, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound player, recorded two solo tackles and four assisted tackles for Florida.
