Entering year three, Kelvin Banks is focused on "the next day, not looking ahead"
Before the Texas Longhorns traveled to Stillwater, Okla. to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2022, OSU head coach Mike Gundy was asked about Texas’ then-true freshman left tackle Kelvin Banks. During the early stages of Banks’ recruitment, the Humble (Texas) Summer Creek product was committed to Gundy at Oklahoma State.
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Gundy was concise in his estimation of Banks.
“Good news, he won’t be there but three years,” Gundy said. “He’ll be gone.”
Banks was asked last week if this was his last spring as a Longhorn before he heads off to the NFL. Banks cracked a smile before offering his response.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Banks said. “Just trying to get better and just doing what I do each and every year to get better. Just looking at the next day, not looking ahead.”
Banks has gotten better over the course of his two seasons in Austin. He’s started all 27 possible games at left tackle during his two-year career. In 2022, Banks battled four first-round defensive end prospects and held his own and then some against each one. He posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 71 in 2022 with a 77.9 grade in pass blocking and a 64.9 grade in run blocking.
He improved his game in 2023. Banks earned an overall grade of 76.5 with a 70.0 run blocking grade and a strong 86.8 pass blocking mark. He was assigned blame for one sack during the Longhorns’ run to the College Football Playoff..
He allowed 12 pressures in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. But during the most recent campaign, he tallied almost 100 more pass blocking snaps. He ended the 2023 campaign with a pass blocking efficiency grade of 98.8 (Pass blocking efficiency is a PFF signature stat measuring pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed).
Even with tangible year-over-year progress, Banks is looking to achieve more in 2024 as the Longhorns embark on their first year in the Southeastern Conference.
“Just trying to be the best player I can be,” Banks said. “Taking all parts of coaching and trying to become a better offensive tackle than I was last year. Making sure I study my opponents better, things like that. Looking at the tendencies of the guys across from me.”
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Even as one of four returning starters on the offensive line, Banks’ unit has seen some rotation. He mentioned Neto Umeozulu and Hayden Conner trading reps at left guard. The rotation hasn’t dampened the level of play according to Banks. Plus, “returning starter” status doesn’t affect how he or several of his teammates approach the 15 total spring practices.
“As of right now, we have a great rotation,” Banks said. “We have guys going in and out. We all good communication with each other every day in practice. Especially in spring, nobody is a starter.”
Left tackle at Texas is Banks’ as long as he wants it, but he knows he has a responsibility to help younger players be ready for game situations. Banks spoke about how he’s made sure to lead the offensive tackles from the front.
“I would say Trevor Goosby, Brandon Baker, Andre Cojoe, and Jaydon Chatman,” Banks said on younger players standing out. “Those four guys, I feel like I’ve tried to stay on them real hard. I’m just letting them know ‘you might do good, but you can get this better on that rep.’ Even if (Kyle) Flood gets on them, I’ll double down and try to help them some more.”
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Though he was quick to throw water on the idea this would be his final spring in a Longhorn uniform before heading to the NFL, with a 2024 season in line with his previous developmental trajectory Banks can make Gundy’s prediction come true.
