Tavian Banks played running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1994 to 1997. During his senior campaign of 1997, Tavian rushed for a school record 1,691 yards and 17 touchdowns, also an Iowa single season record. In the 2nd game of the 1997 season, Banks rushed for 314 yards and scored four times in Iowa's victory over Tulsa, one of the most memorable performances in Hawkeye football history. Tavian also holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a career with 36. Iowa finished 1997 with a record of 7-5 after losing to Arizona State 7-17 in the 1997 Sun Bowl, in what would be legendary coach Hayden Fry's last bowl appearance. Fry would later retire after the 1998 season.Tavian was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 4th round of the 1998 NFL Draft. After a promising start to the 1999 season, Tavian suffered a major knee injury during a game with the Atlanta Falcons. Banks tore the ACL, PCL, and LCL in his left knee and missed over two years due to surgery and rehab. Tavian attempted a comeback with the New Orleans Saints in 2002 and was actually named to the practice squad in 2003. Banks was waived by the Saints in 2004 at the conclusion of the NFL Preseason.
Tavian served as assistant running backs coach for the Louisville Cardinals last season, but decided to leave the team when head coach Bobby Petrinio left for the Atlanta Falcons. Currently, Tavian is the Sports Performance Director with Velocity Sports Performance in Naperville, IL.