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Gators commit Ben Hanks Jr. ties local record for interceptions

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•11/22/24•

On3Keith

Hanks
Ben Hanks (From X)

Florida Gators commit Ben Hanks Jr. has etched his name into the local record books in Miami. The 4-star cornerback from Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington is now tied for the all-time single-season lead for interceptions in Miami-Dade County, per the Miami Herald.

Hanks has 12 picks this season in only 11 games. That includes the two he came up with in a 47-0 Thursday night playoff win over Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons. One of them was a pick-six.

According to the Herald, both of Hanks’ Thursday night interceptions came in the second quarter.

Here’s what the paper wrote: “For the final two minutes of the second quarter, Hanks took over. On the first play of the Chiefs’ next drive, Hanks grabbed his first interception and nearly ran it back for the touchdown, ultimately getting stopped inside the 10-yard line only because he ran into a teammate. Booker T. Washington scored two plays later on a run by Maine. Desperate, the Chiefs (7-5) tried to muster something in the final 1:22 of the half and it backfired. Cardinal Gibbons got near midfield, but then Hanks struck again, this time running an interception back 55 yards for a touchdown.”

Hanks is a valuable member of the Florida Gators’ recruiting class and as many know is the son of Florida linebacker great Ben Hanks, who played for then-coach Steve Spurrier in the 1990s. Ben Hanks Sr. had 10 interceptions as a senior safety for Miami High back in his day.

The younger Hanks, listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is the No. 11 corner and No. 69 overall recruit nationally for the On3 Industry Rankings. He committed to the Gators in August, but the Miami Hurricanes have not gone away and continue to heavily recruit him.

Hanks is expected to visit Florida on Saturday for the Gators-Ole Miss game, per sources close to the team. But he also has shown up on some Miami visitors lists for Saturday.

Florida currently has 15 commitments and the No. 26 class in the country for On3. You can find an inside look at the Gators’ top remaining targets HERE.

Florida is 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the SEC entering Saturday’s game at The Swamp vs. the Rebels. Meanwhile, Ole Miss is 8-2, 4-2 in the SEC.

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