STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton Football’s Blake Haynes, Donovan Banks and Blaine Hoover have all received the dream call of making it to the NFL.
Haynes, Banks and Hoover have been invited to NFL rookie camps as undrafted free agents. Haynes was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs and just finished their three-day rookie minicamp on Monday. Banks participated in the New York Giants rookie minicamp Friday-Saturday, and Hoover will attend the San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp this upcoming weekend.
Over the past two years, the Texans have had six players reach football’s highest level. Defensive backs Dominique Martin and Benjie Franklin have each spent time with the Green Bay Packers, and defensive back Devin Hafford signed with the New England Patriots last season.
Haynes played the last four seasons with the Texans on the offensive line, appearing in 39 career games. Last season he was named First Team All-WAC, his second straight All-Conference honor. On the offensive line in 2022, Haynes helped the offense gain 436.8 yards per game, Tarleton’s best average since 2019, the most in the WAC, and the 21st most across the FCS.
Banks was a Tarleton defensive back for four seasons, playing in 30 career games. He had a career year last season that earned him First Team All-WAC accolades. In 2022, he recorded a team-high four interceptions (two interceptions for touchdowns), to go with a forced fumble, 47 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, a sack and four pass breakups. His four interceptions were the tied-most in the WAC (tied-13th in FCS), while his two pick-sixes were the tied-most nationally and the most on their own in the conference.
Hoover played one year at Tarleton, tallying 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble last season. He had his best game in his final collegiate game, posting a sack-fumble, three tackles for loss and five tackles total.
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