With the start of the 2024 campaign quickly approaching, the Texas Longhorns have been heavily involved in preseason award watch lists. On the Lombardi Award watch list, two Longhorns made the cut in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Trey Moore. The award is given to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who displays outstanding performance and ability and best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.
Following a stellar 2023 campaign, Banks is in the running for the Lombardi Award for the second straight year. Last season, he appeared in 14 games for the Longhorns at left tackle. The Texas native helped the Longhorns’ offense thrive and opened holes for running backs Jonathan Brooks, who recorded 1,158 rushing yards, and CJ Baxter, who recorded 659 yards. While Banks does not show up on the stat sheet, he was a big part of the offense’s success.
Joining Banks on the list is Moore, who is eager to prove himself after transferring to Texas. Last season, he recorded 45 total tackles, including 30 solo stops for UTSA. Due to his play, Moore was named the 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and recognized on the AAC first-team. With the San Antonio native in the mix, the Longhorns defense has added another special player.
While the talented duo will focus on helping the Longhorns rack up wins, they will also be looking to etch their way into the record books. The last Texas player to win the Lombardi Award was Brian Orakpo in 2008. Nine other players in program history have been finalists including Justin Blalock (2006), Rodrique Wright (2005), Derrick Johnson (2004), and Cory Redding (2002).
As the 2024 campaign plays out, this will be one storyline to watch.