The comeback trail begins a few strides outside his family’s Westside home. A right turn onto 34th Street, another right onto Dandy Trail and off on a loop that takes him back home.

James Banks Jr., a former high school All-American, runs this route almost daily. On hard concrete, in peak afternoon sun, amid the exhaust of cars, he takes his first steps toward resurrecting one of the most promising careers in the history of Indiana high school football.

A knee injury and a series of infractions, ranging from marijuana use and underage drinking to poor grades and missed team meetings, cut short a promising start at the University of Tennessee. Those missteps also kept him from playing at Division II Carson-Newman College.

Now he’s back home, a 23-year-old former phenom starting over.

Last week, he started working as a host at a T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant, earning an hourly wage and a share of waiters’ tips. Earlier that day he began a workout program with a personal trainer. He’s attending his childhood church, New Corinthian Baptist.

He’s starting to look forward, rather than reflecting on what he lost. That means mulling football options that will range from minuscule to considerable — depending on his choices over the next few months.

"I’m 100 percent confident," he says. "I just have to do it. I’ve had so many chances. I have to make one of these count."

Sky was the limit

Banks was voted The Indianapolis Star’s Indiana Mr. Football after completing his career at Ben Davis High School in 2001-02. He was a consensus first-team All-American who could have played college ball anywhere he wanted.

He played quarterback and defensive back at Ben Davis, leading the Giants to two state 5A championships.

As a freshman at Tennessee, Banks played quarterback in the last eight games. In his only start, he directed the Vols to a 35-14 victory over Mississippi State.

Heading into his sophomore year, InsideTennessee.com declared Banks to have "electrifying skills as a playmaker."

Banks didn’t disappoint. He switched positions to receiver and had a breakout game against Alabama. He scored three touchdowns — two as a receiver and one as a quarterback — in a 51-43 victory.

"The sky was the limit," said his high school coach, Dick Dullaghan.

That’s why it’s so difficult for those who know Banks to understand the detour his career has taken. Along with his athletic gifts, he’s the product of a solid, two-parent home filled with positive examples.

His father, James Sr. — a star running back at Indiana State who had two NFL tryouts in the mid-1980s — is a 22-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department and supplements his income as a part-time meter reader for Citizens Gas & Coke Utility. His mother, Gwen, a hairstylist, is respected in her school and church communities. Younger sister Janese is an Academic All-Big Ten women’s basketball player at Wisconsin.

Both nature and nurture have been in his corner.

"He absolutely comes from a good family," Dullaghan said.

But Banks lost his way at Tennessee. He twice was suspended for smoking marijuana. He had a shouting incident with a female student on campus. He was cited for underage drinking and a noise ordinance violation. He was late for practice. He missed classes and tutoring sessions.

Finally, he ran out of chances. He was cut in December 2004 after another positive drug test. He attended Franklin College for one semester, then returned to Tennessee and asked coach Phillip Fulmer for reinstatement. He was denied.

Banks explains some of his actions as the result of being away from home for the first time.

"I was trying to mingle with everybody," he said. "That’s what got me in trouble — having fun with everybody."

Perhaps the biggest obstacle was the ease with which he excelled on the field. His talent was such that he could get away with average dedication — for a while. Banks never handled his talent with care.

"Sometimes it’s just so easy, you think you can get by doing other things, or not doing this or that, and still be OK," he said.

Makes no excuses

In 2005, Banks enrolled at Carson-Newman College. Colts coach Tony Dungy, who is close friends with the Eagles coach Ken Sparks, recommended it, and Banks’ father is friends with one of the assistants.

Once again, academics kept him off the field. The cause of his failure was easy to diagnose.

"Just laziness," he said.

No one makes excuses for Banks’ situation.

"We’re not blaming anybody, because he had the foundation to overcome any kind of obstacles, or to have not gotten involved in the first place," James Banks Sr. said.

"What happened showed him that the S on his chest wasn’t as bulletproof as he thought. At some point the favors run out."

Finding a way back

Now merely mortal, Banks must earn his way back into football’s good graces. He and his father haven’t ruled out Banks seeking a tryout in the NFL Combine in February. Playing in Canada or Europe are distant options. Banks hopes to re-enroll at Carson-Newman for the spring semester, get his grades in order and play next season.

It’s not as simple as it sounds. Athletes rarely return to prominence after two-year layoffs.

Dullaghan wants to believe, but he’s also seen great talents go by the wayside.

"The deck is stacked against him now," Dullaghan said. "He’s going to have to be a tremendously motivated young man. If he gets another chance, it will be because he totally changed the reputation that he has now."

Banks, however, appears ready to try.

"I’ve never lost my passion for the game," he said. "I love it from the bottom of my heart. That’s just how it is."

He has another reason for wanting to play again, too.

"I want to be remembered."

For football.

KEY EVENTS

Dec. 9, 2001: James Banks Jr. wins The Indianapolis Star’s Indiana Mr. Football after leading Ben Davis to two state titles as a starting quarterback.

Jan. 5, 2002: A consensus first-team All-American, he plays in prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Feb. 6, 2002: Announces he’ll attend the University of Tennessee. Purdue was his second choice.

Fall 2002: Plays in final eight games at quarterback as a freshman.

Fall 2003: Switches to receiver to stay on the field. Leads team with 42 receptions for 621 yards.

December 2003: Arrives late for practice and is suspended for first half of Peach Bowl loss to Clemson.

Spring 2004: Participates in spring practice as a defensive back but is suspended after having a verbal altercation with a female on campus.

July 2004: Suspended for first three games for underage alcohol consumption and a noise ordinance violation.

August 2004: Suffers torn cartilage in right knee during preseason practice and later has surgery.

December 2004: Submits diluted urine sample for drug test, which leads to ultimate suspension for marijuana usage. It is not his first positive drug test.

January 2005: Enrolls in Franklin College and earns six hours of classroom credit.

May 2005: Seeks reinstatement at Tennessee but is denied by coach Phillip Fulmer.

Summer 2005: Meets with Indiana University coach Terry Hoeppner about joining Hoosiers but is denied.

Fall 2005: Enrolls at Division II Carson-Newman, but is ineligible to play football as a transfer student.

Spring 2006: Participates in spring practice for Carson-Newman but fails to meet academic standards for eligibility.