Falcons linebacker Brian Banks, looking comfortable calling the signals at middle linebacker, went through his first practices with the team during rookie minicamp Saturday.
Banks, 27, who signed with the Falcons on April 3, is attempting to make a comeback after being exonerated of rape and kidnapping charges in May 2012. He spent more than five years in prison.
"It was real good today to get out there," Banks said. "I've been (watching) film for like the last two weeks, and to finally get a chance to get out there and put all of the knowledge that we've been putting on paper out onto the field was a really good experience."
Banks, 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, spent the 2012 season with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL). He played in two games and posted one tackle. He received NFL tryouts with Kansas City, San Diego, and San Francisco and attended minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason.
“After the initial workouts that I had with several teams last year I’ve had plenty of opportunities to go back and properly get into the playbook and (learn) the X’s and O’s,” Banks said. “I definitely feel comfortable with the knowledge that has been given to us and me being able to (replicate) it on the field.”
Banks lined up at middle linebacker Saturday. The Falcons like to cross train their linebackers at the weakside and strongside positions, but Banks said he's most comfortable in the middle.
“He did a nice job calling the defenses,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He was the signal-caller out there today. It was good to see him come out and compete. It will be interesting to follow his progress having been away from football for so long.”
“It was a really fast pace,” Banks said. “I made a lot of good moves. I made some mistakes, so adjustments will be made.”
After the morning practice in the team’s indoor facility, Banks was eager to watch film of the workout.
“Now, we have something actually on film to look at ourselves,” Banks said. “We’ll go back and diagnose it. The most important thing is to not make consistent errors. We want to go in and fix things and then re-adjust.”
Banks, who was a prep All-American who committed to USC before being wrongfully sent to prison, said he can sense that his football instincts are coming back.
“I’m starting to be able to see things a lot faster than I was a year ago, for sure,” Banks said.
After the time away from football there clearly were some concerns.
“I think it was more of the physical (nature),” Banks said. “It was of me being able to keep up with the tempo of the game. That’s not a problem.”
Banks has been well-received in the locker room.
“We’ve had a chance to meet with Brian,” linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. “Just hearing his story is amazing and seeing how motivated he is. He’s such a good guy. I look forward to seeing how he reacts once he’s out there playing ball. He seems like a smart guy.”
The Falcons didn’t select a linebacker in the draft and have only four returning from last season’s active roster — Stephen Nicholas, Akeem Dent, Robert James and Weatherspoon. Veteran Mike Peterson was not re-signed during free agency.
The Falcons also had linebacker Pat Schiller on the practice squad last season, and he’s participating in the minicamp.
The team signed four undrafted linebackers, and two others are receiving tryouts.
The undrafted rookies are Texas State’s Joplo Bartu, Boston College’s Nick Clancy, Arkansas Pine-Bluff’s Brandon Thurmond and Delaware’s Paul Worrilow. Fresno State’s Shawn Plummer and Arkansas Pine-Bluff’s Bill Ross are receiving tryouts.
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