Kelvin Banks: "I feel confident I'll be able to play Saturday"

Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks had to exit the game versus Texas A&M after a handful of plays. Listed as a gametime decision for the SEC Championship, Banks tried to give it a go in Atlanta but was not able to suit up and play.

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Banks provided an update to his status on Monday.

“The ankle is feeling a whole lot better,” Banks said. “I’ve been attacking my rehab process. I’m feeling confident in my ankle and where I’m at in my process.”

Does that mean he’s back?

“I feel confident I’ll be able to play Saturday,” Banks said.

Banks went through a number of drills, stretches, and tests in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to see if he could play versus the Georgia Bulldogs. He never looked comfortable ahead of the kickoff, and was seen in street clothes as Texas took the field for the final stages of pregame warmups.

“The Georgia game, it was just a sense of could I tolerate the pain in my ankle and if I felt like I could go,” Banks said. “In that moment, I just felt like it wasn’t the right time for me to try to play in the game.”

In his place was Trevor Goosby, who notched 74 snaps versus Texas A&M and 78 snaps against Georgia. Banks was happy with what he saw from his stand-in.

“He did a wonderful job,” Banks said. “Every time he came to the sideline, he showed his energy and you would have never thought he was a redshirt sophomore. He showed his willingness to go out there and win. I told him before every play just be yourself, don’t try to do too much and don’t try to do too less. Just go out there and play football, be yourself, and always stay confident in what you’re doing. He took that and ran with it and played well.”

Banks is scheduled to practice on Monday afternoon as the Longhorns prepare for a first-round matchup versus Clemson in the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns had some workouts last week while off, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian liked what he saw from the first-team All-American, Outland Trophy winner, and Lombardi Award winner.

“I was very pleased,” Sarkisian said Monday. “I was probably the one that held him back more than he actually wanted to do, but I wanted him to come back today feeling really good with where he was out. I’m comfortable with him, with Quinn (Ewers), a lot of the guys that had things nicked up, we’re going to come back today and feel like a much more healthy football team than we were a couple weeks ago.”

It’s no rest for the weary for Banks. He and his Joe Moore Award finalist teammates will face a difficult task against Clemson, who boasts an attacking and talented defensive line.

“Their whole D-line is just high motor guys, especially (TJ Parker),” Banks said. “They’re guys who don’t give up on the play even if you block them, and they’re going to keep pursuing the quarterback. For us as an O-line, we have to make sure we’re finishing in the pocket and make sure we keep the pocket clean for Quinn.”

As he typically does, Banks dodged questions about whether or not this would be his final game in burnt orange. But if it is, he took the chance to praise the fans that will pack the stadium for one final time in 2024.

“DKR is special in itself, man,” Banks said. “All three years I’ve been here, it’s been very special just to see the fans and how much we grew as Longhorns. Just to see how much the fans put into the game year in and year out no matter how we’re doing, it’s just special being able to run out of the tunnel and being able to see all the people who support us and are going to war with us as well.”

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Texas battles Clemson on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The game will air on TNT and stream on MAX.