Senior LB Tyler Banks Speaks on Winning Chucky Mullins Award, Time at Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. — As the Rebels finished up practice on Friday, linebacker Tyler Banks was available to the media after being named the Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner on Thursday. After practice, Banks spoke about everything from why he chose Ole Miss to his experience in Oxford and how it feels to win the award.

How it feels to win the Chucky Mullins Award

“Just honored, blessed, can’t wait to represent,” Banks said. “I know the people before me represented it well, and I plan to do the same, just honored, really.”

After head coach Lane Kiffin made the announcement on Thursday, Banks was offered Mullins’ No. 38, which he accepted, a decision he said he made with “no hesitation.”

Banks embodies the award that honors former Rebel Chucky Mullins, his dedication, and his courage after he returned to Ole Miss to continue his education, even after making a tackle that paralyzed him during a 1989 game against Vanderbilt.

Ole Miss DT JJ Pegues, who was drafted by the Raiders in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was the last winner of the award. Banks is now the 35th player to receive the award.

Since Banks arrived in Oxford as a freshman in 2022, he has appeared in all 39 games. Now, as a senior, Banks has the prime opportunity to be a leader in what could be a dangerous defense for Ole Miss in 2025. As a leader and a player, Banks is setting the standard for other players in the locker room, something that will hopefully inspire younger players on the team.

What kept him at Ole Miss

“Just from the day I committed, I knew that this was home,” Banks said. “Growing up, that was just a principle that was instilled in me. Just whatever I’m doing, give it 100% regardless.”

Not only is Banks setting the standard for the future leaders in Oxford, but he is also continuing what should be the standard in college athletics. Nowadays, it seems that all many players care about is money and playing immediately; loyalty is hard to find.

However, Banks was raised right and has stayed loyal to the program. He waited for his turn to be a leader, and he’s got it now. But what made him stay at Ole Miss? Family, that’s the answer.

“The family, just the atmosphere, that’s one of the main reasons I came here,” Banks said. “Visiting felt like home, I’m from a small town, and it’s got the small-town feel, not only that, but the people.”

The college football world needs more players like Banks: true leaders. His determination and courage are invaluable, something that contributed to him winning the Chucky Mullins Award.

How far he’s come since entering college

“I’ve come so far, from each [defensive coordinator] I’ve had, each position coach I’ve had, I’ve grown and grown over the years,” Banks said. “I continue to grow and learn every day from the people that are coaching, just the men in the building that are instilling values of being a man, everything on and off the field.”

This not only speaks to Banks as a person and player, but also to the ability and quality of the staff and their ability to lead and guide these players not only through football, but also through life.

It seems to be something that many often forget about, that the players are people too. Good leadership on and off the field is something that every program needs, something that is a key contributor to success. Without leadership and guidance off the field, the team won’t be successful, and it will lead to long-term issues.

The fact that Ole Miss has top-quality leadership in every area is something that will lure recruits to Oxford, even if it takes a while for some of them to recognize and see the value in it. Banks is a representative of the team and the coaching staff, and hopefully, many will see the type of man he is and aspire to be more like him:

“From the first day I got here, I had my mind made up that I was gonna be genuine and true to everybody around me, I tried to introduce myself to everybody, learn everybody’s name,” Banks said. “I feel like all my years I’ve been here, I’ve just been building relationships with each and every person in this building, because I want to know them all, I want them to be family.”

Defense is ‘ready to go’

“From the front end to the back end, the whole defense is ready to go,” Banks said. “We’ve got hitters on the [defensive line], hitters at the second level; TJ Dottery, Tahj Chambers, [Andrew] Jones, the boys are ready to go. Back end: Nick Cull, from the corners, everybody’s ready to roll, man, the defense is flying around right now.”

As fall camp continues, more insight and information become available about the state of the defense, and the longer it goes on, the more improved and favorable it begins to look. At first, there were questions concerning new faces and certain positions after Ole Miss lost so many players to the NFL and graduation, but now it seems as if the Rebels could have a very strong defense yet again.

Determination and fight are what a good defense needs more than anything, and so far, it seems as if Pete Golding’s unit has this. The linebacker corps is one of the strongest, the secondary is continuously improving, and the defensive line is showing up in camp.

With not a whole lot of national attention heading into the season, it may have surprised some that Ole Miss was placed at No. 15 in the Coaches Preseason Poll. But, if the Rebels can improve on that ranking and continue success from the seasons prior, then it will speak volumes as to just how good Coach Kiffin and his staff are, something that will help the Rebels continue strong work in the portal and contribute to future success in recruiting.