FOOTBALL: Banks reunites with old friends on the field

Ball State running back Horactio Banks will find two of his best friends and past teammates on the opposite sideline this Saturday.

Tracing all the way back to Pop Warner days, Banks has been close with Darius Scott and Demarius Reed of Eastern Michigan University. The three went on to play high school football together at Simeon, a school of about 1,500 students in Chicago.

“I grew up with those guys, all the way until I got here,” Banks said.

Reed, a 5-foot-10 junior wide receiver for the Eagles, nearly took the next step with Banks. The two both paid visits to Muncie coming out of high school.

Ball State recruited Reed as a defensive back, but Banks said his friend wanted the opportunity to play offense. Reed chose to attend Eastern Michigan where he could remain a wide receiver.

Head coach Pete Lembo said Reed would be a dangerous player for the Eagles this week.

Though Banks lives more than three hours away from his former teammates, they still talk on a daily basis. The three plan out times to visit home and be around each other.

Banks said they always work out together, sometimes at their alma mater’s weight room.

Banks said through their time as teammates, he’s learned what Scott and Reed are capable of on the field.

“After a game, if I see them mess up, I’ll call them and tell them what they need to improve on,” he said. “And I know they’ll do the same for me.”

Banks said that was the case after Ball State fell to North Texas last week. Reed and Scott were able to watch the game on television, so they called him and lent advice afterwards.

Leading up to this week’s game though, the attitude is a little bit different. Banks made sure to let Scott, junior defensive back for Eastern Michigan, know that Ball State junior wide receiver Willie Snead won’t be easy to cover.

“My whole life, I’ve been around great competitors,” Banks said. “Like Willie and Darius. They’re just good competitors, so I know they’ll both be ready to go on Saturday.”

But will Scott be able to keep up with Ball State’s leading receiver?

“No,” Banks said. “I say that out of respect for Willie, but I know Darius is going to compete. So if Willie beats Darius, he’ll be right back the next play. I know it’ll be a good matchup.

“I won’t be able to watch it on the field when I’m out there, but I’ll come back and watch it on film because I know it’s going to be good.”

Banks said he looks forward to competing against his teammates, but on game day, that won’t be on his mind.

“It’s just another game,” Banks said. “[Ball State] refocused and put the North Texas game behind us, and for [Scott and Reed], it’s just another game to us.”