Caleb Banks (pictured above) becomes the 57th first-round draft selection in program history.
Florida’s Caleb Banks Selected 18th overall by Minnesota Vikings
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | Football
Banks becomes the highest Gator drafted since QB Anthony Richardson in 2023, fourth overall to Indianapolis.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Florida football defensive tackle Caleb Banks was selected 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft Thursday night. Banks becomes the 57th Gator to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
With the pick, Florida continued its streak of having a pick in every NFL Draft since 1967. UF is one of three schools, along with USC and Michigan, and is the only SEC program to achieve the mark.
Banks joined Florida ahead of the 2023 season and immediately made an impact, starting in 11 games for the Gators in his first season. The Detroit, Mich., native set career-highs in tackles (21), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (two) across the 2024 campaign. Leading into the 2025 season, Banks was named to the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Lott IMPACT Award watch lists. He spent most of the season dealing with injury, playing in three games (LSU, Tennessee and Florida State).
In 2024, Banks helped the Gators to a late-season turnaround, as the Orange and Blue closed the season with four straight wins, including two ranked SEC wins. In those ranked wins over No. 21 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss, Banks combined for seven tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection. He was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his Week 13 performance against No. 9 Ole Miss.
Banks earned his degree in Education Sciences this past fall from the University of Florida while also being named as a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll during each of his three seasons in Gainesville (2023-25). He was also recently named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honors Society.
The senior took part in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he posted the second-best Next Gen Stats Draft Model score by a defensive tackle with a 73. Banks also boasted the longest wingspan by a defensive tackle since 1999, with an impressive 7 feet, 1.75 inches measurement.
He becomes the third Gator to be taken on day one by the Vikings, joining Percy Harvin (2009) and fellow defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (2012).
Hear From the Vikings
"Really excited about adding a player of Caleb's talent," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said of Banks Thursday. "We really felt like we were able to identify a player with a ceiling of what we believe to be a top ten caliber talent and difference maker potentially. … We get to add a guy with a ton of upside. … Can't wait to coach this player. He loves football, wants to be coached hard and ultimately believes the Minnesota Vikings are a great place for him to come and try to maximize who he is as a player. Not only now, but where we think he can take this thing throughout his career with the type of talent and ability that he has."
"His traits are off the charts," Vikings executive vice president of football operations, Rob Brzezinski, said "You don't find guys like this, he's got all the ability in the world ... I think the sky's the limit ... And I think together with his commitment and the resources and the coaching we have it's gonna give him the best chance to be successful."
Draft Notes
2026 NFL Draft Information
The 2026 NFL Draft will be televised nationally by NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. On-air coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft for the next two days will begin at the times listed below:
April 24 (Friday): 7 p.m. ET – NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
April 25 (Saturday): Noon ET – NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
2026 Football Season Tickets
Following 18-straight, sold-out games at The Swamp, fans can now purchase season tickets to be part of the start of the Coach Sumrall era. The 2026 home schedule features six games against FAU (Sept. 5), Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21).
Click here to secure Season Tickets
Follow Gators Football on Socials:
Instagram: @GatorsFB
Facebook: @GatorsFB
Join the Conversation: #GoGators
With the pick, Florida continued its streak of having a pick in every NFL Draft since 1967. UF is one of three schools, along with USC and Michigan, and is the only SEC program to achieve the mark.
Banks joined Florida ahead of the 2023 season and immediately made an impact, starting in 11 games for the Gators in his first season. The Detroit, Mich., native set career-highs in tackles (21), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (two) across the 2024 campaign. Leading into the 2025 season, Banks was named to the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Lott IMPACT Award watch lists. He spent most of the season dealing with injury, playing in three games (LSU, Tennessee and Florida State).
In 2024, Banks helped the Gators to a late-season turnaround, as the Orange and Blue closed the season with four straight wins, including two ranked SEC wins. In those ranked wins over No. 21 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss, Banks combined for seven tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection. He was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his Week 13 performance against No. 9 Ole Miss.
Banks earned his degree in Education Sciences this past fall from the University of Florida while also being named as a member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll during each of his three seasons in Gainesville (2023-25). He was also recently named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honors Society.
The senior took part in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he posted the second-best Next Gen Stats Draft Model score by a defensive tackle with a 73. Banks also boasted the longest wingspan by a defensive tackle since 1999, with an impressive 7 feet, 1.75 inches measurement.
He becomes the third Gator to be taken on day one by the Vikings, joining Percy Harvin (2009) and fellow defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (2012).
Hear From the Vikings
"Really excited about adding a player of Caleb's talent," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said of Banks Thursday. "We really felt like we were able to identify a player with a ceiling of what we believe to be a top ten caliber talent and difference maker potentially. … We get to add a guy with a ton of upside. … Can't wait to coach this player. He loves football, wants to be coached hard and ultimately believes the Minnesota Vikings are a great place for him to come and try to maximize who he is as a player. Not only now, but where we think he can take this thing throughout his career with the type of talent and ability that he has."
"His traits are off the charts," Vikings executive vice president of football operations, Rob Brzezinski, said "You don't find guys like this, he's got all the ability in the world ... I think the sky's the limit ... And I think together with his commitment and the resources and the coaching we have it's gonna give him the best chance to be successful."
Draft Notes
- With today's selection, Florida has had 381 players drafted all-time and 292 players selected since 1967.
- Banks becomes the sixth defensive tackle out of Florida taken in the first round and the first since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Taven Bryan 29th overall in 2018.
- Highest UF defensive tackle taken since Gerald Warren in 2001 (Third overall – Cleveland Browns).
- Seventh first-round draft pick since 2020 and 29th since the turn of the century.
- Mark's back-to-back seasons with a defensive tackle drafted (Cam Jackson, 2025, to the Carolina Panthers).
- Banks is the 27th defensive tackle from Florida drafted since 1967.
- Becomes the 12th Gator to be drafted by the Vikings all-time.
- Florida (57) boasts the fifth-most first-round draft picks since 1967 and the second-most day-one selections in the SEC, behind only Alabama (76).
- The Gators are tied for fifth among current SEC programs with 381 all-time draft picks.
- UF's 381 selections are good for the 10th most all-time.
| Rank | School | No. of Picks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 87 |
| T-2 | USC | 76 |
| T-2 | Alabama | 76 |
| 4 | Miami (FL) | 66 |
| 5 | Florida | 57 |
| T-6 | Michigan | 47 |
| T-6 | Florida State | 47 |
2026 NFL Draft Information
The 2026 NFL Draft will be televised nationally by NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. On-air coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft for the next two days will begin at the times listed below:
April 24 (Friday): 7 p.m. ET – NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
April 25 (Saturday): Noon ET – NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
2026 Football Season Tickets
Following 18-straight, sold-out games at The Swamp, fans can now purchase season tickets to be part of the start of the Coach Sumrall era. The 2026 home schedule features six games against FAU (Sept. 5), Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21).
Click here to secure Season Tickets
Follow Gators Football on Socials:
Instagram: @GatorsFB
Facebook: @GatorsFB
Join the Conversation: #GoGators
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