Dooda Banks readily acknowledges the difficult adjustment he experienced to the demands on a young college football player.

Being an imposing defensive lineman coming out of a successful high-school program and attracting a pile of scholarship offers from power-five schools made Banks a prominent member of Texas Tech's 2021 signing class. That didn't translate to success, or even a role, right away.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive tackle from Wichita Falls Rider began to feel more comfortable toward the end of last season and cracked the Texas Tech defensive line rotation for the Texas Bowl. He played only 31 snaps last season as a redshirt freshman, 24 of those coming in the Red Raiders' season-ending 42-25 victory against Mississippi.

"It upped my confidence to where I know I can play at this level now," Banks said this week, "and I know that I could be like an unstoppable player that can play on Sundays."

That's change for the better, considering the adjustment to college football and college life initially left Banks feeling overwhelmed.

"My freshman year was real hard," he said. "Football and school at the same time, and then how much we do up here, was real difficult. So I feel I had a hard time with that, and then just keeping my mind set right. But, man, the development from there and then (to) now is crazy."

With Banks' feet planted a little more firmly on the ground, the Red Raiders hope his late-season breakthrough in 2022 sets a foundation for future success. He's lapping up more opportunity this spring.

Tech coach Joey McGuire is wanting to invest practice time heavily in young backups at certain spots, defensive tackle being perhaps chief among them. Fifth-year senior Tony Bradford, with 25 career starts, is sitting out to recover from off-season surgery. Sixth-year senior Jaylon Hutchings, a 46-game starter, doesn't exactly need to prove himself.

So their heirs apparent are being drilled plenty.

McGuire singled out Banks this week, referencing his playing time in the bowl game and how he's performed since.

"Really pleased with him," McGuire said. "Every day, he's really shown up. He's playing at a high level."

Defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch said he's encouraged with Banks' development.

"I saw him take steps," Fitch said. "He actually did a really good job in the bowl game last year. That's why it was so important getting those young-guy practices (in December) that we did in preparation. He then came into this spring and you can seeing him taking a steps.

"So my expectation for him is to keep getting better day by day. Keep being the brand. Keep putting those extra things that we can put in our toolbox. ... So the expectation is for him to keep taking those steps, and I think we're all going to like what we see out of him. He's doing really good for us."

Eventually, Banks would love to make a name for himself — in which case, it's likely to be the nickname given him by a friend of his father. Though listed on the roster by his given name, E'Maurion Banks, the Red Raiders' defensive tackle said everyone has called him "Dooda" from as far as back as he can remember.

"Everybody knows me as Dooda," he said.

And when someone refers to him as E'Maurion?

"It doesn't sound right," Banks said. "It doesn't sound like I'm supposed to be called that."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Comfort level growing for Red Raiders' young defensive tackle Dooda Banks