MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The NCAA has reinstated Icky Banks to West Virginia’s football team but the cornerback must serve a three-game suspension to open the season, coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday.
MetroNews first reported last week that Banks was being held out of practice while facing an academic situation that threatened his eligibility this season. Holgorsen confirmed Monday that as part of the NCAA’s ruling, Banks would now be allowed to practice throughout the suspension. He must miss games against Alabama, Towson and Maryland and will be cleared to play against Oklahoma on Sept. 20.
“We’re glad he got it resolved,” Holgorsen said.
A native of Richmond, Va., Banks has appeared in 36 games at West Virginia while making 16 starts. He and safety Karl Joseph were the lone defensive returnees to start every game in 2013.
In Banks’ absence, junior Terrell Chestnut and senior Travis Bell have been rotating at left cornerback. Holgorsen said both “are going to take snaps” against Alabama, and added that recently admitted junior college transfer Jaylon Myers is “full-go” as well. That news could be a huge boost to West Virginia’s pass defense, considering Myers only enrolled Aug. 18.
“We’ve got bodies at corner, bodies that have played,” Holgorsen said. “We’ve just got to see how they respond.”
COACH SPEAK
Some highlights from Monday’s Big 12 coaches teleconference:
• What has Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops most excited about the new college football playoff? “Hopefully us being in it.”
• Baylor’s Art Briles on his certainty the first-year playoff selection committee will pick the correct final four: “I’ve got all the confidence in the world. How can you think something will be wrong before it has a chance to be right? I’m all-in.”
• Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy on facing defending national champion Florida State: “They’re as far along as any team I’ve ever played against in my 25 years at this level.”
• Charlie Strong on how Texas players perceived their 17-8 record the last two seasons: “They feel like they let themselves down and let the university down because they have such high expectations.”
• Paul Rhoads on how stadium improvements lure recruits: “They buy with their eyes to a large extent.”