When Ball State football’s Horactio Banks starts cutting up field against Iowa, he’ll be trying to sprint past Iowa linebacker Reggie Spearman.
It’s the first time the pair will face off in college, but they know each other far better than most opponents do. That’s what happens after spending two years standing on the sideline next to each other.
Banks and Spearman attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago and played football together during Bank’s final two seasons.
The two talked directly after Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa, and again on Tuesday.
“I told him that we’re coming out there to play some real good football and we’re not playing to lose,” Banks said.
There’s little trash talking between the two friends, who both share a healthy respect for each other’s athletic ability.
Last week against Colgate, Banks rushed for a team-high 134 yards on 13 carries. Meanwhile, Spearman recorded four tackles against Northern Iowa to start the second season of his career.
He was one of four Hawkeyes last year to see action as a true freshman.
“The linebackers are all experienced, they’re all returning letter winners, but they had some great linebackers on last year’s team,” Ball State head coach Pete Lembo said. “These guys played more of a backup role and on special teams, but they’re all very good players.”
Last season, Spearman played a limited role. He compiled ten tackles, including a career-high four assisted tackles against Mid-American Conference opponent Western Michigan.
Banks said practicing against Spearman in high school helped make him a better running back, as Spearman was always a physical presence that forced Banks to improve.
Despite now living over 400 miles away from each other, the pair manages to keep in touch. Spearman is one of just a handful of former high school players Banks said he stays in contact with.
They met up a few times over the summer and talked about football, what’s going on in their lives and memories from Simeon.
Their head coach at Simeon, Dante Culbreath, said Spearman had an impact on Banks. Banks wants to call Culbreath at some point this week to remind him that two of his former players face off Saturday.
If he’s in open space against his friend, Banks laughed and said he’d try to run around the 230-pound Spearman rather than try to run over him.
“I don’t run anybody over, I don’t do that,” he said.
In this case, improving to 2-0 isn’t the only thing at stake. When going up against a familiar face, there’s more incentive to come out victorious.
“Winner gets bragging rights for the year,” Banks said.
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