Two Longhorns make On3's list of the top 10 players in the SEC
Under 20 days remain until the 2024 Texas Longhorns football season gets going. Steve Sarkisian‘s program has a number of players considered elite, as made clear by the 13 Longhorns on the preseason All-SEC team.
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But the league doesn’t release a straight-up ranking of players. However, On3’s Jesse Simonton filled that void Monday morning and two Longhorns made the cut.
Simonton labeled Quinn Ewers as the No. 8 overall player in the SEC while Kelvin Banks checked in one place ahead at No. 7.
Here’s what Simonton had to say about Ewers.
Ewers has the most pure arm talent in the SEC, capable of making off-platform throws and downfield shots. He improved his accuracy tremendously in his second season as Texas’ starter (58% to 69%). If he can stay healthy and live up to his top-ranked recruit billing, he should seriously contend for the Heisman Trophy this fall. Ewers’ biggest challenge is establishing chemistry with completely new cast of weapons.
Last year, Ewers started 12 games for the Longhorns and was 272-for-394 for 3479 yards and 22 touchdowns over six interceptions. He also rushed for five scores and ended up the MVP of the Big 12 Championship.
Here’s what Simonton had to say about Banks.
The Longhorns’ left tackle had the highest pass-blocking grade among all power conference tackles, per On3’s Clark Brooks. He allowed just a single sack in 2023, and will again be responsible for protecting Quinn Ewers’ blindside. He stands to be the first Texas OL drafted in the first round since Mike Williams in 2002.
Banks has started every game in his two-year Longhorn career at left tackle. At SEC Media Days, Sarkisian even acknowledged Banks was destined for a three-and-out career at Texas.
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Players from the Honorable Mention category on Texas’ SEC schedule include Nic Scourton from Texas A&M.
Players who made the top 10 list include.
- No. 10 Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- No. 6 Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
- No. 5 Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
- No. 4 Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
