Last month, Clemson played host to this standout Sunshine State offensive lineman who’s on the recruiting radar of numerous power conference programs.
Edgewater High School (Orlando, Fla.) class of 2026 interior OL Ben Bankowitz, who has a couple of FBS offers under his belt, made an unofficial visit to Clemson back in mid-April.
The Tigers are showing interest in the 6-foot-3, 290-pound rising junior, and that interest is certainly reciprocated by Bankowitz, who came away very impressed after his first trip to Tiger Town.
“I’m really interested in them, too. Their facilities and everything about Clemson was crazy nice,” he told The Clemson Insider.
“The hospitality was great,” he added. “Like, everyone there was super nice and very welcoming.”
Bankowitz was accompanied on the visit to Clemson by his father.
“He really liked it,” Bankowitz said. “He’s been up there before.”
According to Bankowitz, his father has a relationship with Clemson offensive line coach Matt Luke and reached out to Luke to arrange the visit.
Bankowitz’s father also has a close connection to former Clemson quarterback Will Proctor, per Bankowitz.
“That’s my dad’s godbrother,” he said. “They’re really close, they talk a lot.”
The Tigers want Bankowitz to return to Clemson for the Dabo Swinney Camp this summer. He plans to do just that and hopes to show the coaching staff what he can do as a big, physical and athletic lineman.
“Just how physical I am and my mentality. That’s what separates me,” he said, describing his game. “And also being able to move, just being the meanest guy on the field, always finishing blocks and being able to move. I feel like I’m one of the quickest guys, so that’s what I pride myself on, being athletic.”
Bankowitz received his first offer from Cincinnati last May, and he added an offer from FAU in January.
Along with Clemson, Bankowitz has been invited to camp this summer at Mississippi State, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wake Forest, South Carolina, West Virginia, Duke and Tennessee.
“These are really the programs showing interest right now,” he said.
Clemson will start extending offers to class of 2026 recruits in June, and Bankowitz said earning one of those offers from the Tigers “would mean a lot” to him.
“I kind of grew up watching Clemson dominate, so it’s a huge deal to get an offer from Clemson,” he said. “And when I was up there, it was super nice. Everything about Clemson – the facilities, the campus, coaches – everything was awesome.”
–Photo courtesy of Ben Bankowitz on X (@BenBankowitz)
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