78 days until Texas Football: Could Kelvin Banks Jr. jump from all-conference to All-American?
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 78 days until kickoff. No. 78 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Kelvin Banks Jr., a sophomore offensive tackle.
Kelvin Banks season outlook
Once Texas completed the flip of Banks from Oregon, he immediately became a candidate to play left tackle for the 2022 Longhorns. Most true freshman aren’t ready for life in the trenches in the Power 5 ranks within their first year on campus, but Banks wasn’t like most true freshmen.
The Humble (Texas) Summer Creek product zoomed to the top of the depth chart at left tackle and held the position for all 13 games. He faced plenty of challenges during his debut season, including face-offs with four different first-round EDGEs and several other quality defenders.
From the story linked above…
His Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade versus Alabama across 45 opportunities was 81.9. Not only did those snaps have him facing Anderson, but also Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell.
Versus Texas Tech (and Tyree Wilson) with 36 chances, his pass blocking grade was 80.8.
Against the Cyclones with 29 reps versus Will McDonald and others, he posted a season-best pass blocking grade of 83.2.
His lowest pass blocking grade in those contests came versus Felix Anudike-Uzomah and a stout K-State defensive front. In 32 chances, he posted a pass blocking grade of 60.6.
Joe Cook, April 28
Banks ended up as an All-Big 12 selection and two different outlets named him a freshman All-American. After a standout 2022 blocking for Bijan Robinson, Quinn Ewers, and Roschon Johnson, it’s not unreasonable to think one of the five major selectors will tab Banks as an All-American should he continue on what appears to be a lofty trajectory.
Texas hasn’t had an Outland Trophy winner since Brad Shearer in 1977. Banks will be on the watchlist for that honor this year, and could be a contender for prestigious award in his sophomore campaign.
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Banks started all 13 games as a true freshman last season and earned second-team All-Big 12 Selection by both the Big 12 Conference’s coaches and the Associated Press after a dominating first year on the 40 Acres.
Banks was named honorable mention Big 12 offensive freshman of the year and league’s offensive lineman of the year by the league’s coaches after he garnered a spot on ESPN’s 2022 preseason true freshman All-American team.
Kelvin Banks as a recruit
Banks was ranked as the No. 22 overall prospect, the No. 2 offensive tackle, and the No. 5 player in Texas in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.
Recent player to wear No. 78: Denzel Okafor
Okafor, a member of Texas’ class of 2016, played in 50 games with 19 starts. He is currently on the roster of the USFL’s Michigan Panthers.
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All-Americans to wear No. 78
Blake Brockermeyer, T, 1994
