July 16, 2025
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Alabama Crimson Tide Star Defender Recognized for Off-the-Field Impact with Selection to Prestigious AFCA Good Works Team

The Alabama Crimson Tide have long been associated with dominance on the field—national championships, NFL-bound talent, and a tradition of excellence in the sport of college football. But recently, one of their top defenders has gained national recognition not just for what he does between the white lines, but for the leadership and heart he displays far beyond the stadium.

Senior linebacker Elijah Banks was officially selected to the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most prestigious honors in college football recognizing student-athletes for outstanding community service, academic excellence, and leadership. For Banks, it’s a moment that validates years of effort—not just as a star defender in the SEC, but as a person committed to changing lives.

“To be included on this team means more than any tackle I’ve ever made,” Banks said in a statement following the announcement. “It’s not just about football. It’s about leaving a mark in the world and showing young people that you can lead with your heart.”

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which was established in 1992, annually honors 22 players from across all levels of college football who exemplify service and commitment to their communities. Players are selected based on their involvement in various charitable causes, volunteer efforts, and outreach programs—qualities that exemplify the best of what student-athletes can offer. Past recipients have gone on to achieve success in the NFL, education, politics, and nonprofit leadership.

For Banks, who has been a fixture in Alabama’s starting lineup since his sophomore year, the accolade represents the culmination of a lifelong passion for service. Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, he was no stranger to adversity. Raised by a single mother in a low-income neighborhood, Banks leaned on community mentors and after-school programs to stay on a positive path.

“I saw a lot of people around me make choices that led them the wrong way,” Banks said. “But I also saw what happened when people cared—when they gave you a chance to see something better.”

That formative experience shaped his mission off the field. Since arriving at the University of Alabama, Banks has immersed himself in volunteer work, mentorship, and advocacy. He’s helped lead food drives, organized neighborhood clean-ups, and spent countless hours mentoring local high school students, many of whom come from backgrounds similar to his.

His most notable initiative came in 2023, when he launched the “Fourth Quarter Foundation,” a nonprofit aimed at helping high school athletes in underserved communities navigate college recruiting, mental health struggles, and academic challenges. The foundation now partners with three area high schools and has helped over 60 student-athletes receive guidance on applications, scholarship opportunities, and leadership development.

“I wanted to give them the support I didn’t always have,” Banks said. “Not every kid has someone in their corner, and I just wanted to be that person.”

The impact has been undeniable. Coaches and teachers at the schools Banks supports say the presence of a Crimson Tide player—especially one as respected as Banks—has transformed the way students view their future.

“It’s different when someone like Elijah walks in the room,” said Coach Michael Reynolds of West End High School, one of the foundation’s partner schools. “He’s living proof that it’s possible to rise above. The kids listen when he talks—not because he plays football, but because he’s real.”

In addition to his foundation, Banks has been an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Alabama, where he’s helped spearhead initiatives around racial justice, mental health awareness, and campus inclusion. In 2024, he led a university-wide campaign focused on reducing the stigma around student-athlete mental health, resulting in the creation of new peer-support groups and counseling partnerships.

His leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed inside the Crimson Tide football program, either. Head coach Kalen DeBoer, entering his second year at Alabama, praised Banks not only for his elite play but for the values he brings to the locker room.

“Elijah is the kind of player every coach wants to build around,” DeBoer said. “He works like a pro, plays like a champion, and leads with character. What he’s doing off the field is just as impressive as what he does on Saturdays.”

And what he does on Saturdays is no small feat.

Banks has emerged as one of the most dominant defenders in the SEC. In 2024, he recorded 89 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions, earning second-team All-SEC honors. His sideline-to-sideline range, film study discipline, and explosive first step have made him the heartbeat of Alabama’s defense. Analysts expect him to be a top-3 linebacker in the 2025 NFL Draft.

But even with a potential NFL future in his sights, Banks remains grounded.

“This platform has to mean more than just football,” he said. “If I’m lucky enough to play at the next level, that only means I have more reach—more responsibility. I want to be the guy that kids can look up to not just because I made a tackle, but because I showed up when they needed someone.”

The AFCA Good Works Team selection has only amplified his voice. As part of the honor, Banks will participate in a series of national community initiatives, media appearances, and mentorship events alongside fellow recipients. He will also be featured during ESPN’s coverage of the College Football Playoff, showcasing the human side of the sport to millions of fans.

And for Alabama fans, it’s another reason to be proud—not just of their winning tradition, but of the culture their athletes represent.

“Elijah embodies what we want Crimson Tide football to stand for,” said Athletic Director Greg Byrne. “He’s proof that success doesn’t have to be one-dimensional. You can chase greatness on the field and still make a real difference in the world.”

Banks’ teammates have echoed that sentiment. Fellow linebacker Kamari Wilson described him as the “heart of the defense” and “the type of guy who’ll help you study for a test, volunteer on his off-day, and then go out and dominate in a game.”

As Alabama gears up for another title run in 2025, Banks will once again be at the center of the action—calling plays, making reads, and anchoring a top-10 defense. But more than anything, he’ll be doing what he’s always done: lifting people up.

Whether it’s teammates in the film room, kids at a community center, or strangers at a campus event, Banks lives by a principle he often repeats: “Legacy isn’t what you leave behind—it’s what you leave inside people.”

With his selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Elijah Banks has etched his legacy deeper into the heart of college football. Not just as a player, but as a man who understands that the game is about more than the scoreboard. It’s about purpose, perseverance, and people.

And in all three categories, Banks is already winning.

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