That's a fair point. But elevating others is part of a teacher's responsibility. If Banda was here for 6 years, and he had no ability to advance a player's career, we would be having a different argument.
OK, but he was here for 5 years, the 2016 to 2020 seasons.
---Half of the six players I cited worked with Banda for ONE YEAR (and one was a one-and-done). Do we really think that Jenkins, Elder, and/or Colbert were improved by working with Banda for a year? I recall Colbert almost NOT being drafted after he thought he would be IMPROVING his draft position by coming to Miami. I've always hated when corches do this, they put guys on their "resume" because they either recruited them (and left, thus never developing them) or because they worked with them in the final year prior to the draft. It's just bull****.
---The other half of the six players I cited worked with Banda for THREE YEARS, and none were recruited by him. I am fully capable of giving Banda more "developmental" credit for Redwine and Johnson (I'm not sure why the NFL draft lists him as a CB, maybe he was projected as one, though he played more S at Miami). But I would also point out that one of the OTHER things I hate are CIS porsters who alternately argue that "talent is the key, development doesn't matter" and "the coaching is everything", depending on what their agenda-of-the-minute calls for.
---Now, if "talent ID" and/or "development" were Banda's strong suits, then we could have expected that Miami would have had more cornerbacks and safeties drafted since 2020 that Banda had recruited and/or partially developed. But...yeah...no DBs drafted since 2019. So that is a pretty strong indicator of Banda's talent ID and development from 2016-2020. NO DEFENSIVE BACKS DRAFTED that he brought into the room. And Tyrique is a transfer from UGa, so he won't count on Banda's ledger.
---I realize it's a tall order to ask for BOTH Talent ID AND Development. The three head coaches on UM's Mount Rushmore for those skills are Schnellenberger, JJ, and Butch. The talent they brought in and PARTIALLY developed helped the NEXT coach to win a NC or two. But when it comes down to position coaches, it's a little tougher. Kehoe and Soldinger are up there, and I can think of a few others. I just don't put Banda in that category.
And, listen, I don't hate the guy. Banda was an excellent recruiter. I had issues with two things: (a) he overruled Rumph on a number of CB recruits that would have helped Miami tremendously, and (b) all of Banda's recruits seem to have underperformed and/or washed out.
Just my personal opinion, but based on a lot of what I've heard from players as to who was the most responsible for DB coaching. Congrats to Banda for his ongoing career path.
