Kelvin Banks looks to recreate strong performance versus Alabama knowing Texas must communicate to make it happen

The idea of marching out a true freshman left tackle versus Alabama in 2022, regardless of recruiting ranking, inspired some amount of uncertainty in Longhorn fans ahead of last season’s matchup with the Crimson Tide. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood elected to deploy Kelvin Banks, On3’s top tackle in the 2022 class, at left tackle versus elite Crimson Tide EDGEs like Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, and Chris Braswell.

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All Banks did was earn a 81.9 pass blocking grade and surrender one total pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.

Anderson was the first of four first-round picks Banks played against during his debut campaign. In games versus Anderson (and company), Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, Iowa State’s Will McDonald, and Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah, PFF assessed four total pressures surrendered to Banks.

The first of those games versus Anderson, Turner, and Braswell inspired confidence that Banks would carry throughout his freshman All-American season.

“Looking back on that game, it taught me a lot,” Banks said Monday. “It showed me a lot of different things I needed to work on, like being able to communicate with others in game situations in that atmosphere. It taught me a lot.”

Anderson is off to the Houston Texans after he was picked third overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Turner and Braswell remain. Plus, talented sophomore Keanu Koht joins their company to maintain an impressive pass-rush trio.

“They’re great pass-rushers,” Banks said. “I feel like they help their defense get going and they do make big plays. With them being that, I feel like our O-line has to step up even more just to communicate and make sure we keep the pocket clean.”

Communication was something Banks harped on during his availability on Monday, one that began with teammate Jahdae Barron doing his best impersonation of a beat reporter. It was what Banks said the Longhorns needed to work on most ahead of the trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“I feel like we played really good,” Banks said of their outing versus Rice. “I feel like our communication could be way better, but other than that I feel like we did really good as a unit.”

Lapses in communication led to three sacks of Quinn Ewers on Saturday versus the Owls. There were also lapses elsewhere, too. Banks and Christian Jones were the only two linemen to receive an offensive grade above 70 from Pro Football Focus, with Jones earning a grade of 74.4 and Banks not too far behind at 71.5. No other starter, whether Hayden Conner, Jake Majors, or DJ Campbell, earned a grade above 60.

Those lapses, whether in run blocking or pass protection, can have debilitating effects on plays. Last year versus the Crimson Tide, one such plays knocked Ewers completely out of the game after his scintillating start.

Heading into Tuscaloosa, Ala., Banks and the rest of the O-linemen in Flood’s position group know they need to keep the Longhorn signal-caller upright in order to give the Horns their best chance at victory.

“As an O-line unit, you definitely don’t want to see you quarterback getting hit,” Banks said. “I would say it’s definitely a big thing for us, to try to make sure he stays off the ground.”

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The competition level will increase on Saturday, likely at the highest level Texas will see this season. But to Banks and other Texas players, they understand the need to prepare like they do for every other game. That’s not to say they don’t respect the challenge Alabama represents, but rather they believe every game should get the same amount preparation as the one versus the Crimson Tide.

Accordingly, Banks and the Horns hope they head back to the Lone Star State with a win, knowing what has to be done in order to make it happen.

“As a team, we take every game like it’s a championship game,” Banks said. “We try to come in and play every game as hard as we can. No matter what game it is, we’re going to try to play our hardest and make sure that we go and execute each play.”