Johnthan Banks Joining Starkville High Football Coaching Staff

(Photo Courtesy: AP)

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — One area star will be trading in his maroon for black and gold next football season.

Johnthan Banks will be joining head coach Chris Jones’ coaching staff at Starkville High School, WCBI has confirmed. Robbie Faulk of the Starkville Daily News was the first to report the news.

Banks spoke at the Starkville High fall sports banquet back in late January which continued the conversation between he and Jones of potentially joining forces this upcoming season.

Jones tells WCBI the move was made in part to “seal the deal next time”, which is in reference to Starkville coming up just short in winning the 2017 6A State Championship.

Banks immediately strengthens an already strong team returning at Starkville. The Yellow Jackets return a strong nucleus on their 2018 football team including star running back Rodrigues Clark, quarterback Malik Brown, defensive stars Zach Edwards and Jalil Clemons plus defensive back Myles Stone who will work under Banks at DBs coach in 2018.

Banks, a graduate of East Webster High School, spent the last five seasons playing with four different teams in the NFL, most notably with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2013-2016. He was drafted by the Bucs following a season where he won the Thorpe Award at Mississippi State.