Education
Banyard attended Sweetwater High School in Sweetwater, Texas, where he played football and competed in track and powerlifting.
Banyard attended Sweetwater High School in Sweetwater, Texas, where he played football and competed in track and powerlifting.
He played football at the University of Texas-El Paso. He was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2012. As a senior in 2007, he switched to running back, totalling over 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Also a top competitor in track & field, Banyard was a state qualifier sprinter.
He and his teammates also placed third in both the 4 × 200m and 4 × 400m relays with times of 1:27.40 and 3:19.62, respectively. He ran the 200-meter dash in 23.21 seconds in 2006.
As a senior, he placed third in the long jump at the Regional Meet with a leap of 6.64 meters (21"95"). At the San Angelo relays, he recorded a personal-best time of 50.51 seconds in the 400-meter dash.
Regarded only as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Banyard committed to Texas Christian University on January 21, 2007.
Banyard started his college career at Texas Christian University. Prior to his freshman season, Banyard transferred to University of Texas-El Paso. He saw his first playing time his junior season.
He was UTEP"s leader in rushing attempts with 109.
He also had 623 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Jacksonville Jaguars
Banyard was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad on October 14, 2015, after runningbacks Corey Grant and Bernard Pierce were added to injured/reserved list for the remainder of the season.
The following week he was re-signed to the active roster. After Toby Gerhart suffered an injury, Banyard was promoted to third string.
New Orleans Saints
June 7, 2012 Banyard signed on contract with the New Orleans Saints.
On September 13, 2012 he was waived by the team Minnesota Vikings
Banyard was signed by the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the rest of the 2012 season on the practice squad. Banyard was released by the Vikings on August 31, 2013 (along with 18 others) to get to a 53-man roster, signed to the practice squad the following day, released again on September 4, and then re-signed to the practice squad on September 10, 2013.
On December 14, 2013, Banyard was added to the Vikings active roster.
On December 16, 2013 the Vikings waived Joe Banyard, only to re-sign him to the practice squad two days later. On August 30, 2015 he was released from the team
He has also been a member of the New Orleans Saints, and the Minnesota Vikings before returning to the Jaguars in 2015. In 2005, he went to the Texas State Meet as a member of Sweetwater"s relay squads. In the 4 × 100m final, he ran the third leg, helping them earn a second-place finish and setting a new school-record time of 41.98 seconds.