LAS VEGAS (CBSLA.com) — Brian Banks, the former Long Beach Poly High School football star falsely accused of rape, made his professional football debut Wednesday evening in Las Vegas.
CBS2 reporter Randy Paige was there for the big game.
Banks, 26, signed with the United Football League’s Las Vegas Locomotives, earlier this month.
Banks had been accused of raping a high school classmate when he was 16.
At the time, he was a standout middle linebacker who was headed to likely college stardom.
USC was one of many schools looking to invest in Banks.
In 2003, he was convicted of rape and served five years in prison and five years on parole.
He always maintained his innocence.
On May 24, Banks was exonerated with the help of the California Innocence Project. And years later, in two videotaped conversations, the alleged victim changed her story and said a rape never happened.
Earlier this summer, Banks was invited to try out for six NFL teams.
