Booker T. Washington CB Ben Hanks Jr. is the Dade 3A-1A Defensive Player of the Year
Miami Booker T. Washington senior Ben Hanks Jr. has always had a knack for finding the ball.
It comes from a childhood spent playing baseball. As a center fielder, Hanks spent plenty of time showing off his speed and instincts tracking fly balls.
Those skills translated onto the football field where Hanks Jr. has so often been able to seek and secure passes intended for his opponents.
It’s a big reason Hanks Jr. recorded a Miami-Dade County single-season record 13 interceptions this season and finished with 21 for his career. And why he’s the Miami Herald’s Class 3A-1A Dade Defensive Player of the Year.
And why Hanks Jr. became a four-star cornerback prospect who has signed to follow in his father’s footsteps to play for the University of Florida.
Hanks Jr. wrapped up a stellar high school career by helping the Tornadoes advance to the Class 2A state semifinals. He finished with 40 tackles including 28 solo in addition to the numerous key turnovers he created.
“I wasn’t really thinking about breaking a record, but it’s like a dream come true,” Hanks Jr. said.
Hanks Jr., whose father played for the Gators in the early 1990s and spent two seasons in the NFL, is an assistant coach at Booker T. Washington.
He watched his son develop into one of the most dangerous cover corners in the country and a force on special teams.
Hanks Jr. returned three of those 13 interceptions for touchdowns and blocked multiple kicks during his career.
“Something I learned from my coaches at Booker T. was my work ethic that I put in from the beginning,” Hanks Jr. said. “The hard work is gonna pay off and I’m going to bring that to the next level with me.”
Although Hanks Jr. almost seemed destined to end up in Gainesville, there were several FBS schools who recruited him including the hometown Miami Hurricanes.
But Hanks stayed true to his pledge to the Gators and signed with them this past December during the early signing period.
“(Florida coach) Billy Napier just told me to trust the process and I believed in them since day 1 even before things started going good,” Hanks Jr. said. “I know they’ll put me in a good position to go out there and show my talents.”
