Tag: Kelvin Banks Jr

Longhorns star lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. named Lombardi Award finalist

Each year it is given to the top lineman in college football

During the 2024 campaign, Kelvin Banks Jr. has been one of the Longhorns’ best players. On Wednesday, he received national recognition for his play when he was named a finalist for the 2024 Lombardi Award. Each year it is given to the top lineman in college football.

Since making his collegiate debut during the 2022 season, Banks has started 37 games and been an anchor in the offensive line. With Banks providing consistency, the Longhorns offense has been hard to stop. Entering Week 13, they rank ninth nationally in team passing efficiency, 12th in passing offense, and 13th in scoring offense.

As Banks has been at the center of the Longhorns’ success, he has also continued to add to his trophy case. He has been named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice and the  Outland Trophy’s National Player of the Week once. Due to his play, the Summer Creek High School product has been a popular name in NFL Mock Drafts.

https://twittercom/TexasFootball/status/1859296060876914880

While the Longhorns’ focus is on winning a national championship, Banks will also be looking to make history as his junior season winds down. Brian Orakpo, Tony Degrate, and Kenneth Sims are the only Longhorns to win the Lombardi Award.

Over the next few weeks, Banks will be a player to watch as he continues to make his case. The winner of the Lombardi Award will be announced on Dec. 11, and the Longhorns hope their star hears his name called.

Two Longhorns earn SEC Player of the Week honors

As the Longhorns extended their undefeated run, two players, Kelvin Banks Jr. and Anthony Hill Jr., played key roles

Following their bye week, the Texas Longhorns returned to action on Saturday with an impressive win over Oklahoma. As the Longhorns extended their undefeated run, two players, Kelvin Banks Jr. and Anthony Hill Jr., played key roles. On Monday, they were rewarded for their performance.

In the weekly SEC honors, Hill and Banks took some hardware. Banks was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the second time this season, while Hill earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.

As the Longhorns’ defense held Oklahoma to three points, Hill was a human highlight reel. He finished the afternoon with a team-high 11 tackles and two sacks. The talented linebacker was also the only Texas player with more than five tackles and recorded a sack for the fourth straight game. Hill has always been a player the Longhorns can rely on, and he took his game to another level in the Red River Rivalry game.

While Banks may not have shown up on the stat sheet, he was equally impressive. The Texas native was the highest-graded player on an offensive line that paved the way for 406 total yards. He also did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure, allowing Quinn Ewers to be comfortable in the pocket after missing two and a half games.

Although the 2024 campaign is far from over, Hill and Banks have seen their stock skyrocket with their play. Monday was another example of how good they have been and where they rank in the SEC. Their next test will come against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday who are ranked as the fifth best team in the country.

Saints would be picking top-10 if the 2025 NFL draft started today

The New Orleans Saints would be picking top-10 if the 2025 NFL draft started today. They’re tied for the NFL’s second-longest losing streak after Week 6:

This isn’t where you want to be at any point in the season, but especially not after six games. The New Orleans Saints would be picking top-10 if the 2025 NFL draft started today, according to the latest projections from Tankathon — more precisely, they’d hold the No. 8 overall pick.

After dropping four losses in a row, they’re tied with the Cleveland Browns for the NFL’s second-longest losing streak after Week 6. Only the 1-5 New England Patriots have gone longer without a win. This is the second time in three years that Dennis Allen’s team has held a 2-4 record after Week 6,  having reached just 3-3 last season.

No. 8 would be the highest the Saints have drafted since they traded up to  No. 7 to pick defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis back in 2008, who was out of the league by 2013.

Still, this would be a great slot to add an impact player. Heisman Trophy favorites like Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter and a truly generational talent in Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty are both projected to be available. Instant starters along the offensive line might be found, too, if LSU’s Will Campbell or Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks slide a bit. No quarterback looks like a sure thing just yet.

But the draft is months away. Just because the Saints might be picking at No. 8 right now, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay there. Allen’s teams have made a habit of making late-season runs to chase a long-shot playoff berth and that pattern could repeat this year. Allen is coaching for his job, so don’t expect the Saints to go in the tank. If his defense keeps losing games, though, they won’t need to.

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Kelvin Banks Jr. named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week

On Monday, Kelvin Banks Jr. was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Following their fifth win of the season, another Texas Longhorns offensive lineman earned a conference award. On Monday, Kelvin Banks Jr. was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. It was the first time in his career that Banks earned a weekly honor,

On Saturday, Banks was part of an offense that recorded  522 total yards, including 324 in the air and 198 on the ground. He was the highest-graded player on the offensive line and did not allow any quarterback pressures. With Banks at left tackle, Arch Manning was able to get his first SEC win and be comfortable in the pocket.

While Banks was a vital piece to the Longhorns’ success, his stellar play is something fans have become familiar with. In his college career, the Summer Creek High School product has made 34 starts. Entering the 2024 campaign, he was named a 2024 preseason First-Team All-America by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News, and The Athletic.

As the Longhorns look to win a national championship, Banks will be relied on heavily. He has helped make life easier for Manning and Quinn Ewers, who have dazzled scouts nationwide. Regardless of the opponent, he has conquered every challenge that has come his way.

After a week off, Texas will be back in action on October 12, when they take on Oklahoma. The offense will be in good hands if Banks can build on his play against Mississippi State.

Saints shuffle their offensive line again in this 2025 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints shuffled their offensive line again in this 2025 mock draft. But would you have made the same decision?

So we missed the window for our usual “Mock Draft Monday” feature on a  2025 NFL draft prospect. That’s going to happen when the New Orleans Saints suffer key injuries and lose a very winnable game to end their surprising season-opening win streak. So we’re picking it up with a look at four different options in the upcoming draft class.

We took the draft order from Tankathon’s latest projection, which had the Saints slotted at No. 21, and used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator to pick for the 20 teams ahead of us.

This left us with several intriguing prospects. The best players available in PFF’s rankings include Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker, Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., LSU right tackle Emery Jones Jr., and Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Those are some great options to choose from.

Jones is clearly going to be the local choice here — beyond starring at LSU, he’s a legit top-15 talent, and the Saints would be lucky to get him as a tone-setting sure thing at right tackle to replace Trevor Penning. But you could just as easily make the case for the other guys.

Walker could improve a run defense that allowed almost 7 yards per carry to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and probably offer more interior pass rush than other guys on the roster. Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders are both only signed through 2025.

Banks could also make sense for an offensive line pick. Taliese Fuaga has done a great job adjusting to left tackle, but many analysts predicted he could be a better fit at guard in the NFL. If Banks is a plug-and-play starter at left tackle, Fuaga could move inside or even go back to his college position on  the right side if the Saints find another answer at left guard.

And then you’ve got Egbuka, who was arguably the most-hyped player in this group. At one point he was seen as a potential top-five draft pick. He certainly has the talent but his production took a serious hit last season (after suffering ankle and knee injuries) and he’s still working to reassert himself in the upcoming draft class. We should also consider he’s got a similar build to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed at a slight 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. How much does he add to the receiving corps?

In the end, we went with Banks. You can find receivers on the second day of the draft. Defensive tackle could be seen as a priority, sure, but realistically they’re going to play half as many snaps per game as one of the offensive linemen available here. And of the two offensive tackles available, Banks is a better prospect. He’s allowed half as many sacks and pressures as Jones on just 23 fewer snaps in pass protection, per PFF charting, while logging 233 more reps as a run blocker and drawing fewer penalty flags. They’ll both be 21-year old rookies (Banks is actually five days younger than Jones).

So who lines up where? We’re guessing Fuaga goes back to right tackle, Banks takes over on the left side, and Penning either tries out at left guard or is shown the door. Drafting Banks is not a perfect solution to their problems but this would be a big step in the right direction.

Still, at the end of the day we’re too far out from the draft to make any serious predictions. Who knows where the Saints will ultimately pick or whether someone like Banks is even going to be available? If nothing else this is a good reminder to watch Banks closely next Saturday  against  Mississippi State, and again on Oct. 12 in the “Red River Rivalry” game with Oklahoma. You can bet the Saints are keeping tabs on him.

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Does ESPN’s preseason All-American list disrespect the Texas Longhorns?

The Texas Longhorns have a grand total of one player on ESPN’s preseason All-American list.

ESPN has released its 2024 college football All-American team. How many Longhorns are on the list?

Texas was a college football semi-finalist last season. Texas has a Heisman Trophy candidate at QB. Texas is even picked by some in the national media to win the SEC and the national title. 

The 4th ranked Longhorns should be well represented, right?

Nope.

The Longhorns have a grand total of one player on the list – OT Kelvin Banks Jr. is a first-team All-American on the ESPN list. He’s the only Longhorn on the first team. There are zero Longhorns on the second team. 

Of Banks, ESPN says, “Both tackles on our All-America team have been starters since they were true freshmen. The 6-4, 320-pound Banks has started 27 straight games and been a fixture at left tackle for the Longhorns since the day he stepped on campus. He allowed just one sack in 550 pass-blocking situations last season and earned AFCA second-team All-America honors. Banks won’t have to wait long to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL draft.”

ESPN may be right on the money. Some of the Longhorns studs from 2023 have gone to the NFL. Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jonathan Brooks and Adonai Mitchell would all be considered for the All-American team if they were still playing for Texas. Many of their positions have been filled by underclassmen or transfers. 

That said, you can make a good argument that QB Quinn Ewers should be second team All-American instead of Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. It’s a close call. Similarly, PK Bert Auburn could be the second team kicker, but he was beaten out by Andres Borregales of Miami. Another close call. 

Once again, Texas players will have to prove to the national media that they are All-Americans. Longhorns like RB Jaydon Blue, WR Silas Bolden, DE Ethan Burke, LB Anthony Hill and DB Jahdae Barron could all be postseason All-Americans if their seasons, and Texas’ season, go as Longhorns fans hope. 

ESPN Preseason All-Americans by the Numbers: 

Georgia: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Alabama: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Michigan: 3 First Team | 0 Second Team

LSU: 2 First Team | 1 Second Team

Ohio State: 1 First Team | 4 Second Team

Oklahoma: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team

Oregon: 0 First Team | 2 Second Team 

Texas A&M: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Tennessee: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Notre Dame: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Clemson: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Two Longhorns players earn spot On3′ list of top ten players in the SEC

That is partly due to their talented duo of Quinn Ewers and Kelvin Banks Jr., who earned spots on On3’s list of the top 10 players in the conference

The Texas Longhorns will open the 2024 campaign against Colorado State in less than three weeks. Expectations are high as the Longhorns prepare for their first season in the SEC. That is partly due to their talented duo of Quinn Ewers and Kelvin Banks Jr., who earned spots on On3’s list of the top 10 players in the SEC, which was made by Jesse Simonton.

For Simonton, one thing that stood out about Ewers is how much he has improved. Simonton said, “He improved his accuracy tremendously in his second season as Texas’ starter (58 % to 69%). If he can stay healthy and live up to his top-ranked recruit billing, he should seriously contend for the Heisman Trophy this fall.” The biggest adjustment Ewers will have to make is getting on the same page as his new wide receivers.

In 12 games last year, Ewers completed 272 of his 394 passes for 3479 yards. The Longhorns will need him to replicate that success as they look to return to the College Playoff. One player who will play a key role in making Ewers successful is Banks, whom Simonton also holds in high regard.

“The Longhorns’ left tackle had the highest pass-blocking grade among all power conference tackles, per On3’s Clark Brooks,” Simonton said. “He allowed just a single sack in 2023 and will again be responsible for protecting Quinn Ewers’ blindside. He stands to be the first Texas OL drafted in the first round since Mike Williams in 2002.”

During his two years with the Longhorns, Banks has been a model of consistency, starting every game. If he can stay healthy this season, Ewers and the rest of the Longhorns’ offense will be in good hands.

Saints linked to big-time offensive lineman in 2025 mock draft

The Saints were linked to a big-time offensive lineman in Touchdown Wire’s latest 2025 mock draft. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. would be a good get:

The 2025 NFL draft is a long ways away, so it’s better to use mock drafts like this one from Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar as advanced scouting reports on players to watch during the 2024 college football season. And this time Farrar has the Saints picking Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr.

A former five-star recruit with the rare combination of size and athleticism pro scouts look for, Banks has been exceptional through two years of play. He’s lined up exclusively at left tackle and allowed just three sacks on 1,006 snaps in pass protection per Pro Football Focus charting. After being selected for the All-Big 12 second team in 2022, he was promoted to the conference’s first team in 2023.

Here’s why Farrar sees him as such a great fit with New Orleans:

Back in Sean Payton’s salad days, the Saints were all about getting the best guards possible to assist Drew Brees in throwing the ball in the ways that were best for him. Now, Dennis Allen’s crew is just looking for a front five that works. The selection of Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 draft helps, but there’s so much that’s still undefined along the line. Kelvin Banks Jr. would be a nice fit in New Orleans because he can play both guard and tackle, and he does it all with serious attitude. Last season for the Longhorns at left tackle, Banks allowed one sack and 12 total pressures in 550 pass-blocking snaps, and when it was time to hit the second level, Banks was looking to HUNT opponents.

It’s tough to fault that logic. The Saints need to keep pouring resources into their offensive line until it isn’t a problem anymore. If they can’t get it right, it won’t matter who the quarterback is or which weapons he can throw to, or whether it’s Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, or someone else leading the backfield next year. Drafting Fuaga was a good start. If things don’t work out with Trevor Penning switching to right tackle, a first-round left tackle like Banks could allow Fuaga to move back to his college position. But if Penning does flourish in his new role, either Banks or Fuaga could move inside to guard. Another talent injection could be just what this unit needs.

Still, it’s a problem for another day (if not another year). Right now the Saints are betting on Fuaga and Penning bookending the line while Nick Saldiveri steps into the lineup at left guard, with Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz returning from last year’s team. Hopefully that combination works well and wins them enough games to where they can look to address another position of need in 2025.

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Ranking the best true freshman from the 2022 season

Which true freshmen made their mark on the 2022 season and where is Harold Perkins Jr on the list?

In today’s college football, we are seeing more and more young players make immediate impacts on their teams.

From running backs to linebackers to tight ends, there is no shortage of young rising stars at the collegiate level. It was no different in Baton Rouge when [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr[/autotag] opted to sign with LSU over Florida and Texas A&M.

The SEC had plenty of talented freshmen taking the field for teams that were competing for the SEC title. After four months of college football action, I compiled a list of the 10 best true freshmen to take the field in 2022. Some names you may recognize with at least one that doesn’t get the headlines of the rest of the list.

We kick it off with a running back out of the state of Alabama.

Five Texas Longhorns to know in this year’s Red River rivalry

Taking a look at five key Texas Players to know ahead of the clash with the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry game.

In a year, Oklahoma and Texas’s annual date in Dallas looks incredibly different. There’s a new coach on Oklahoma’s sideline, and the quarterbacks that participated in the game a year ago transferred to different schools.

Here we are, preparing for another Red River Showdown, and for Texas, they seem like the much more stable team heading into the game. They don’t have the massive injury concerns Oklahoma does, and they’ve played pretty consistent football all season.

Texas enters with two losses. One was to Alabama in an incredible environment in Austin, going blow for blow with a college football heavyweight. Their second was a road loss to Texas Tech in overtime on by three points.

Oklahoma is in a rough spot right now and if they don’t show up ready to play, they could get blown out for the second straight week. Texas features some NFL-caliber skill players that can give the Oklahoma defense fits if unprepared.

For the uninitiated, we mapped out the five Texas players to know heading into the matchup.