A sign of things to come for Kelvin Banks?
Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks was named the Outland Trophy’s national player of the week on Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America, a possible sign of end-of-season accolades to come for the third-year standout.
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Banks has been nothing short of magnificent this season, and has earned SEC O-lineman of the Week honors in back-to-back games. As our Paul Wadlington explained, Banks was dominant against Oklahoma:
Banks surrendered zero pressures, no sacks and no QB hits on 35 pass blocking snaps.
Beyond the grades, I couldn’t find find a single instance of an OU edge mounting a successful pass rush against him.
It extended to the run game. Texas was particularly effective running zone blocking concepts in Dallas against OU’s stunts.
The Outland Trophy’s end-of-year iteration is awarded annually to the nation’s best interior lineman and is one of the most historic honors in college football. Four Longhorns have taken home the award: Scott Appleton in 1963, Tommy Nobis in 1965, Brad Shearer in 1977, and T’Vondre Sweat in 2023.
Those Longhorns represent the best in line play in program history, and Banks is on his way to joining their ranks.
His freshman year saw him take the left tackle job during his first few days on campus. Banks battled four first-rounders that season and did more than hold his own against the likes of Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Will McDonald, Felix Anudike-Uzomah on his way to Freshman All-American and second-team All-Big 12 accolades.
His sophomore year was even better. He was a second-team All-American and a first-team All-Big 12 selection according to the league’s coaches as part of a Longhorn team that won the Big 12 and made it to the final scheduled four-team iteration of the College Football Playoff.
Now in his junior season, one that Steve Sarkisian joked in July will more than likely be Banks’ last as a Longhorn, No. 78 is playing a game the 40 Acres has rarely seen.
He has the seventh-highest PFF offensive grade among tackles who have taken at least 250 snaps. His pass-blocking grade is 89.9, second only to Georgia Tech’s Corey Robinson II who boasts a 91.6 mark.
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Banks has not allowed a sack this season, and has surrendered only a single pressure during the Longhorns’ 6-0 start. It came against Michigan, who likely has the best defensive line Texas has faced so far this year.
Banks has been assessed one single penalty this season, and it was a false start against ULM. The drive still ended in a Longhorn touchdown.
His play has him on his way to being another three-and-out player from the Sarkisian era, and he might end up as one of the highest drafted players in program history. Texas hasn’t had an offensive lineman taken in the first round since Mike Williams was taken fourth overall in 2002.
A top-five draft status is well within the realm of reason for Banks, that’s something which would solidify him one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever wear the burnt orange and white. If that were to happen, he’d join all-timers like Williams, Jerry Sisemore, and Leonard Davis as Longhorn O-linemen who went on to become top-five picks since the AFL-NFL merger.
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These types of accolades have been sent Banks’ way for his entire career, but they’re coming at an increased volume in what might be the best season of his time at Texas. If the Outland Trophy player of the week is any indication, the Outland Trophy could be on the way back to Austin with Banks’ name on it as part of a career without peer in Longhorn football history.
