College teams finding 2026 Florida IOL Ben Bankowitz
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If you suit up with the helmet and shoulder pads at the high school level in the state of Florida, you don’t want to see Edgewater (Orlando) on the schedule thanks to guys like Ben Bankowitz. The Eagles rolled perfect through the 2023 regular season taking on some of the state’s toughest squads. The big wins in tight games were aided by the big man in the offensive trenches moving defenders downfield with ease. College squads are liking what they are seeing leading to offers and campus invites.
Capable of playing all five positions, the 6-3.5, 290-pound, lineman projects as an interior lineman at the next level. Those skills have brought offers from Cincinnati and Florida Atlantic so far.
“I am receiving interest from Florida State, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, UCF, USF, and I have talked to Miami,” Bankowitz said. “Notre Dame and Ohio State are also showing interest – those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.”
Invites to campuses have kept Bankowitz busy in the new year.
“I have visited Florida, Florida State, and UCF,” Bankowitz stated.
Staying local, Bankowitz spoke about hanging with the Knights, “I liked it. I had fun. Coach (Herb) Hand (OL) is cool, so is coach (Gus) Malzahn. It was really fun.”
Gainesville is a special place for the rising prospect.
“I always love going up there,” Bankowitz shared. “I love coach (Darnell) Stapleton (OL) and coach (Billy) Napier. We toured the whole campus; it is an awesome campus. It was very nice.”
The Seminoles also have Bankowitz’s full attention.
“FSU, I love FSU,” Bankowitz said. “My mom went there. I love coach (Alex) Atkins (OL/OC) and coach (Mike) Norvell. I got to see one of my former teammates (2024 four-star) Cai Bates; that is always good.”
More trips are in the works.
“I want to get back up to Tennessee, but I’m not sure when I will make it up there,” Bankowitz stated. “I’m going back to some of the Florida schools for spring practices. I will be at Miami for a spring practice as well.”
Asked about his interest in visiting the Hurricanes, Bankowitz replied, “Miami is a cool place to me. I’m going with my coach. He is taking me down there; he knows their coaches.”
Regardless of the school, teams like Bankowitz at center and/or guard.
“Most of them are recruiting me as an interior lineman,” Bankowitz shared. “They’ve never talked to me once about tackle, it is always about center or guard. A lot of times it is both; you never know what you will play.”
The tape from the 2023 campaign is pushing Bankowitz’s name up recruiting boards.
“I improved on my quickness,” Bankowitz said. “I got a lot faster. As the season goes on it always sharpens your technique. My pass-pro was better. Every little thing got better. I had a bum ankle, and that got better during the season.”
The parts of his game that standout was covered, “The first thing I think about is my mentality. I don’t play dirty, but I finish. I pride my game on finishing my block. Being quick, being able to pull, and being agile are strengths to my game.”
Sticking to what he said, Bankowitz has no idea where he will play so he’s preparing for all possibilities.
“I always get work at center,” Bankowitz shared. “I work at all five every day. I work from a center stance, tackle, and guard.”
Bankowitz continued, “I’m always getting bigger, faster, stronger, and more explosive. My pass-pro is something I am working on. I am getting the little parts down with my offensive line coach. If I get the little things done right, I will get the big things done right.”
Proving his talents against some of the state’s best defenders, Bankowitz will compete at the upcoming Under Armour (Orlando) and Rivals (Miami) camps.