Tag: Kelvin Banks Jr

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.

Oklahoma among top eight for No. 2 offensive tackle in the country

The No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2022 cycle released his top eight schools.

One of the top offensive tackles in the country has released his top eight teams for recruitment. Kelvin Banks Jr of Humble, Texas, is the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country and No. 31 overall player in the 2022 recruiting cycle.

The Texas product has yet to give an update on his timeline as to when he will narrow down his list of schools beyond the top eight. Banks also has no timetable for when he will make his official commitment ahead of National Signing Day.

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 24 7 2
Rivals 4 52 11 7
ESPN 4 52 11 5
247 Composite 5 31 6 2

Vitals

Hometown Humble, Texas
Projected Position Offensive Tackle
Height 6-5
Weight 300

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 21, 2021
  • No visits during the NCAA’s dead period

Offers

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

Oklahoma Sooners offer No. 4 offensive tackle of 2022 class

The Oklahoma Sooners became the latest to offer 2022 offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. He is currently the No. 4 offensive tackle of 2022.

The Oklahoma Sooners and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh have set their sites on the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2022 recruiting class. Kelvin Banks Jr currently holds 20 total offers including the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma State Cowboys.

This is the 23rd offer at offensive tackle sent out by the Sooners. They currently hold no commitments from the class at the position. Banks is a top target that this staff should definitely be pushing for. Banks would definitely help on the edges for this offensive line in the future. He will be a name to watch as we roll into the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 26 7 3
Rivals 4 66 11 8
ESPN 4 52 11 5
247 Composite 4 36 6 4

Vitals

Hometown Humble, Texas
Projected Position Offensive Tackle
Height 6-5
Weight 300

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 2, 2021
  • No official visits during NCAA’s dead period

Offers (20 total)

  • Oklahoma
  • Baylor
  • Oklahoma State
  • Texas
  • Texas Tech
  • TCU
  • Texas A&M

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

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