Longhorns Country

Former Texas Longhorns OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Selected No. 9 Overall in 2025 NFL Draft

The Texas Longhorns are sending another first-round talent to the NFL.
Zach Dimmitt|
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Texas LonghornsNew Orleans Saints

AUSTIN -- Kelvin Banks Jr. is officially making his NFL dreams come true after three seasons on the Forty Acres.

The former Texas Longhorns star offensive tackle was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Green Bay. Banks Jr. becomes the first Longhorn off the board in what hopes to be a record-setting draft for the program.

Banks Jr. declared for the draft in January not too long after the loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.

Kelvin Banks Jr.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

"I will always bleed burnt orange and cherish the memories I've made here," Banks Jr. wrote. "Thank you Longhorn Nation for everything. I look forward to representing Texas proudly in the next chapter of my journey."

Banks Jr. ends his Texas career having started in all 42 games he appeared in for the Longhorns. An All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2023, he followed that up by winning the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award this season while anchoring Texas' offensive line.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Tuesday when meeting with the media after spring practice that Banks Jr. has a successful NFL career ahead of him.

"As I've told everybody, I think this guy's a premier tackle in the NFL," Sarkisian said of Banks Jr. "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 be at tackle in the NFL. You got to play every play like this. You can't ride an emotional roller coaster. So again, whoever gets him is going to get a guy that's probably going to play 10, 12, years in the NFL, knock on wood, barring injury, and have a great career."

Banks Jr. will now head to the Big Easy where he'll look to become a franchise stallworth on the offensive line for New Orleans.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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