Recruiting tempo picks up for Banjo

Sugar Land (Texas) Kempner finished its season with a 6-5 record and a first round trip to the playoffs. The first round exit wasn't what senior safety Chris Banjo had in mind but it wasn't going to dampen what was a very successful season.

"We got eliminated by Pearland," Banjo said. "We lost by four touchdowns. We got our butts handed to us. It's disappointing because our seniors wanted to take us as far as we've ever gone. We'd never beaten Pearland so it was a big mountain to overcome. This season, with our new head coach, it was a big achievement and he took us a long way but we're still kind of disappointed."

A senior leader on his defense, Banjo accounted for 87 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 12 tackles for loss. With that kind of production from the safety position it is no wonder that division I offers from Navy, Sam Houston State and UTEP.

"I like hitting," he said. "I really like contact but also I can cover too. I didn't really get many passes thrown my way. I had a pretty good year. Our defense totally had a good year. Hopefully it will get me somewhere."

Beyond the three offers he already has, Banjo has been hearing from such schools as Northwestern, TCU and New Mexico while he has already taken an official visit to Boise State.

With the season over, Banjo has begun to think about scheduling official visits.

"Maybe the first week of December," he said when asked when he would begin taking visits. "Around that time I'd like to visit Northwestern in Chicago. Northwestern is pretty close to offering."

Along with Northwestern, Banjo hopes to see TCU come in with an offer.

"I'm hoping for Northwestern and TCU to offer," he said. "TCU said that they like me the way I play. My parents really like that TCU is close. They'd like to come see me play sometime."

Along with recruiting, Banjo will be spending his offseason on the basketball court, where he averaged 11 points per game as a junior and on the track where he competes in the long jump and triple jump.