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Steve Sarkisian doesn't get the 'Kelvin Banks to guard' talk, either

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•04/23/25•

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Kelvin Banks
Kelvin Banks (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

For some reason, there are certain NFL draft prognosticators, and maybe even franchises, who view Kelvin Banks as a guard. Yes, a unanimous All-American and the winner of the 2024 Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, and Jacobs Blocking Trophy at left tackle is perceived by some to be a guard in the NFL.

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Steve Sarkisian doesn’t understand why.

“I don’t get it,” Sarkisian said Tuesday.

If there are questions about Banks’ size, they should check his measurements from the NFL Combine. He measured in at 6-foot-5.125 and 315 pounds. He had an 84.375-inch wingspan, 10.375-inch hands, and 33.5-inch arm length. Among O-linemen according to data from MockDraftable that dates back to the 1999 draft class, his height is 66th percentile and his weight is 63rd percentile. Banks may not be getting any taller, but over 6-foot-5 is tall enough and good weight won’t be difficult to add.

What he may lack in height, he has in wingspan. Banks’ wingspan is 90th percentile. His hand size is 78th percentile. Plus, his 32-inch vertical jump is 88th percentile.

If there are any physical aspects that might raise a scout’s eyebrows, they could turn on the film and see Banks dominate players like Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Will McDonald, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Dallas Turner, Josiah Stewart, TJ Parker, and R Mason Thomas. Banks earned accolades and likely first round status because of his play on the field, not because of how far he can reach.

Plus, Banks’ continued status as a coveted first round selection alongside Missouri’s Armand Membou and LSU’s Will Campbell reveals what teams really think. Tackles fly off the board in the first round, while there are rarely more than a couple of guards taken in the first 32 picks. If teams thought Banks was a guard, then he’d probably start falling in many of the well-informed mock drafts.

That was something Sarkisian pointed out on Tuesday. As someone who has been a part of an NFL franchise twice in his coaching career, a portion of the data that makes it to the masses is designed to be misdirection. Teams may leak out information in order to confuse or distract other franchises to increase their chances at obtaining a certain player at a certain draft spot.

Sarkisian’s words hinted that might be what’s going on with Banks, but he made it clear where he thinks one of the best offensive linemen in school history’s career is heading.

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“As it pertains to Kelvin Banks, as I’ve told everybody, I think this guy is a premier tackle in the NFL,” Sarkisian said. “He’s got the right physical measurables. He’s got the right mental makeup. He’s reliable. You can count on him. He’s there every day. He’s emotionally stable, which you have to play at tackle in the NFL. You’ve got to play every play (level). You can’t ride an emotional roller coaster. Whoever gets him is probably going to get a guy who plays 10, 12 years in the NFL, knock on wood, barring injury and have a great career.”

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