The Toronto Argonauts parted ways with wide receiver Brandon Banks on Tuesday. The 35-year-old from Garner, North Carolina, caught 37 passes for 522 yards, four touchdowns, four carries for 25 yards, one touchdown, and 24 punt returns for 163 yards in 16 games.
It was Banks’s first and only season in Toronto after signing a two-year contract last February. In the 109th Grey Cup, Banks caught three passes for 31 yards, helping the Argonauts beat the Blue Bombers 24-23. It was his first Grey Cup title in his nine seasons in the CFL. Banks was due a $35,000 off-season roster bonus.
“Brandon arrived here as a bitter rival and leaves as a member of the Argos family,” said Argos General Manager Michael Clemons. “We thank him for his contributions on the field and for his veteran leadership in the locker room. His time in Double Blue may have been Speedy, but now he’ll always B a champion.”
Banks signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played three seasons in Washington with 11 catches for 35 yards, ten carries for 43 yards, 100 punt returns for 937 yards, 119 kick returns for 2,856 yards, and one touchdown in 41 games.
After becoming a free agent in 2013, Banks made the jump to the CFL, signing with the Tiger-Cats in 2013. He made an immediate impact for the Tiger-Cats with nine catches for 16 yards, six carries for 60 yards, one touchdown, 17 punt returns for 107 yards, and 14 kick returns for 319 yards in five games.
Banks played 111 games in eight seasons for the Tiger-Cats with 422 catches for 5,678 yards, 44 touchdowns, 70 carries for 407-yards, five touchdowns 298 punts for 3,049 yards, seven touchdowns, 184 kick returns for 3,773 yards, one touchdown, and 17 missed field goal returns for 77-yards and five touchdowns.
Banks is a four-time CFL Most Outstanding Player (2014-15, 2018-19), four-time CFL East All-Star (2014-19), and CFL All-Star (2014-15, 2018-19).
Collegiately, Banks played two seasons at Bakersfield Community College (2006-07). In 2007, Banks helped the Renegades to a No.1 national ranking with a 12-1 record, and a birth to the championship game. He caught 93 passes for 894 yards and seven touchdowns.
Then, Banks transferred to Kansas State (2008-09) with 123 catches for 1,754 yards, ten touchdowns, 18 carries for 236 yards, one touchdown, 57 kick returns for 1,625 yards, five touchdowns, and 22 punt returns for 213 yards in 24 games.
