Elite offensive tackle makes his decision to go south and play for the Trojans.
Zach Banner poses with family and friends at Monday's signing day ceremony on campus.
Photo by Casey Littlejohn
It was all about a feeling,
Zach Banner said. One he couldn't really describe.
All the nation's No. 21 recruit knew was that USC was the right fit for him.
The 6-foot-8, 295-pound star from
Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.) chose the Trojans over his other two finalists: Washington and Oklahoma.
Zach Banner will leave Washington
to play two sports at USC.
Photo by Casey Littlejohn
Banner said he didn't make the decision until late Sunday night and it was particularly tough because he'll have to leave family and friends instead of staying close with the Huskies.
Besides being near home, Banner certainly felt a loyalty to Washington, which offered him a scholarship as a ninth-grader. But after a recent visit to USC, he told reporters that it was the most fun he's ever had on a trip, and that he had a real good "vibe."
"I can't quite describe it but I just had that feeling," he said in a ceremony at school that was streamed live on the Internet. "It's hard to pick one. You just choose the best one for you."
On the recruiting radar since his freshman season, Banner has developed into one of the country's finest tackles. As a senior,
he earned U.S. Air Force All-American honors, leading Lakes to an 11-1 record.
He also stars on the school's basketball team and helped lead Lakes to a state Division III championship last season. Banner said Monday that he had talked with USC basketball coach Kevin O'Neill and plans to play both sports in college.
We'll see how the football coaches feel about that.
"He has more upside than any offensive lineman in the country," CBS/MaxPreps recruiting expert Tom Lemming said of Banner.
They're also getting a leader. A 3.6 student, Banner has been student body president four years running and he leads a foundation called "FOE" for "Family Over Everything."
Before the ceremony he thanked all of his family, along with friends, coaches and teachers. He also thanked all those who recruited him, including those at Oklahoma and Washington.
All those gestures seemed to back up Lakes football coach Dave Miller's claim: "He's a tremendous kid. He cares about people and has a desire to excel. His personality is bigger than his physicality."
That's saying a lot, considering his frame. Though he's listed at 6-8, 295 on the MaxPreps roster, many scouting services have him at 6-9, 320.
With Banner off the board, only
Andrus Peat,
Kyle Murphy and
Jordan Diamond remain on the board among Top 10 offensive tackles.
