#13

Ardell Banks

WR · Kent State · R-Jr. · #13

Returning to Kent State for 2026
R-Jr. · Massillon, Ohio → Massillon
via kentstatesports.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Ardell Banks

WR · Kent State · So · #13

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#599 national
CFB
College
Kent State
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025

2 coaches
2024
Kenni Burns
Kent State
2025
Mark Carney
Kent State
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Kenni Burns → Mark Carney. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Kent State0-12HC: Kenni Burns · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2025Kent State5-7HC: Mark Carney · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Kent State1220517.12--
2024Kent State22010.00--
Career1422516.12--
SeasonTeam
2025Kent State--5------
2024Kent State----2----
Career--52----

How he plays

Play style

Beats you over the top.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Kent State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Kent State

Returning around him

  • 11% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -4 net (11 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Kent State · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #128 · 2026 recruiting class #120

DNA match

Player DNA

Deep Threat

Stretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Keenan Jackson’s 2024 season.

NC State · 2024

#2

Umari Hatcher

Syracuse · 2024

78%
#3

C.J. Yarbrough

Liberty · 2022

76%
#4

Jaedon Wilson

Arkansas · 2023

75%
#5

Darrell Gill Jr.

Syracuse · 2025

74%

Matches Keenan on

Height
Recruiting rating
Yards / reception

Differs from Keenan on

Class year (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Art Green's sophomore season at Arkansas State (2021).

Art Green

66%match

Arkansas State · 2021

All-AAC
#2

Cam Vaughn

West Virginia · 2025

All-Conference USA
66%
#3

Rico Flores

UCLA · 2024

65%
#4

Donte Lee Jr

Liberty · 2025

65%
#5

C.J. Yarbrough

Liberty · 2022

64%

Matches Art on

Total EPA (college ability)
Height
Yards / reception

Differs from Art on

Class year (lower)
Recruiting rating (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #2110

Final rank
#2213
Avg #2172.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #2110 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2024–2025
20.02024
2052025

+925%

Up 925% from first season to most-recent.

Background

2025 (R-Sophomore) Played in 11 games with 10 receptions for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns Averaged 17.1 yards per catch Scored touchdowns against Massachusetts (34 yards) and game-winning touchdown at Akron (25 yards) Had a season-long 38-yard reception at Texas Tech Totaled 12 points on the season...

via kentstatesports.com ↗