Lakeland University sophomore Zelmarious Banks (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was named to the D3football.com preseason All-American team, which was announced Wednesday by the website.

Banks was named a second team preseason All-American as a cornerback. He is just the second Muskie to receive the honor from D3football.com in the 27 years the website has named a preseason All-American team, and the first since Kezlow Smith was named a second team preseason All-American in 2018 as a wide receiver.

Banks is coming off a huge freshman season in which he quickly became one of the top ballhawks in NCAA Division III. He took over as a starter at cornerback in the Muskies' second game last year and went on to intercept seven passes, leading the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and tied for second nationally in Division III at the end of the regular season.

Included in his season was a record-setting game against Concordia Chicago Nov. 1, when Banks intercepted three passes, returning two for touchdowns of 55 and then 100 yards. His 175 yards in interception return yards in the game set a new D-III single-game record, breaking a mark set more than 42 years earlier.

Banks was a first team all-NACC pick and also was named a second team D3football.com All-Region 5 selection. He was one of just two freshmen to make the first or second teams on the all-Region 5 squad, and the lone to do so on offense or defense. This year he is one of just six sophomores total on the three D3football.com preseason All-American teams.

Lakeland opens its 2026 football season Friday, Sept. 4, traveling to face Carthage College for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Kenosha. The Muskies play their first three games on the road and won't appear at home until Homecoming and the Cheese Bowl game against Concordia University Wisconsin Saturday, Sept. 26.

Complete D3football.com Preseason All-America Team