Class of 2022 Recruit Spotlight: West Monroe High School DE Brock Harvey & MLB Tag Banks

by Andon Brabham

A defense is the backbone of all successful teams, and a dominant front seven can bring a defense from good to great. This is the story for West Monroe Senior Defensive End Brock Harvey and Linebacker Tag Banks.

In 2021, Tag Banks made a huge impact as a leader on the West Monroe defense, tallying 127 tackles, 4 of which for loss, along with an interception he returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery. Banks says his biggest on field strengths is “[his] awareness of offensive formations and how I can quickly decipher which ways and what type of play they are running.” Tag also models his game after former All-Pro Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, citing Kuechly’s awareness and ability to read plays as traits he looks to model his game after.

Banks looks to improve his speed when he gets to the next level, but strength is not an issue for him, lifting over 450 pounds in the squat, benching 275 pounds, and power cleaning 290. His size and strength makes him dangerous as a linebacker, getting into the backfield and making plays.

Brock Harvey also emerged as a senior leader on this year’s Rebels squad racking up over 80 tackles, 17 of which for losses, along with 12 sacks. A dominant pass rusher off the edge, Harvey described his biggest strength as his ability to get pressure on the quarterback, and his size and strength certainly helps with that skill. The 6’5”, 250 pound Harvey is dominant in the weight room as well, lifting 315 pounds on the bench press, 349 in the power clean, and almost 500 pounds in the squat.

Brock likens his game to the dominant Watt brothers, J.J. And T.J., citing J.J.’s brute strength and T.J.’s speed and technique off the edge as traits he tries to follow. Harvey also said that he is looking to improve on his hands and techniques before he gets to the next level with multiple schools showing interest in him.

Off the field, both Banks and Harvey enjoy hunting and hanging out with friends and family. Banks plans to major in engineering once he arrives at , and Harvey intends to major in Kinesiology. They both also wish to work hard and become the best possible versions of themselves. These two dominant defenders are players to look out for at the next level.

Andon Brabham, a senior at baton-rouge Magnet High School, is a freelance sports writer who spends most of his free time watching and analyzing players and their teams. Andon will watch just about any sport, but football, from high school to professional, is where his passion lies. As a lifelong Louisianan, born in Hammond, it should come as no surprise that Andon is a die-hard LSU and Saints fan, having spent many Saturdays in Death Valley; something every football fan should do at least once.

Andon is studying mass communications and has worked in both WBRH and KRBH radio stations as a student jockey. His skill in math, and with numbers, has drawn him into his love of statistical analysis of players and teams. Interesting pieces of data are his specialty. Living in Louisiana has amassed his love and passion for football across the state, and he stays abreast of the sports world with great intensity. Andon writes for Louisiana Football Magazine and is hoping to expand his credentials as he enters Louisiana State University next fall.

We have exciting news that for the 25th year, we will release our Louisiana Football Magazine preview editions. Also, for the fifth straight year, we will have our North and South LA issues and both are now available to pre-order! Both issues will continue to cover all the Louisiana s as well as all the high schools in state, but there will be eight pages that will focus on North Louisiana as well as South Louisiana. Along with our print editions of both magazine issues, our digital magazine editions will also be available to pre-order. Just like with our print versions, our digital editions will be available to you when both magazines are available.

For more information, please check the following link to where you can either order our print or digital version of the magazine of your choice. Also, below are the two covers as well as where you can order both magazines on our website.

Buy Print/Digital Magazine Here: https://www.lafootballmagazine.com/2021-magazines/

North Cover South Cover