Texas Longhorns OT Kelvin Banks Talks Offensive Line Battles In Spring Practice

The Texas Longhorns offensive line will look a bit different in 2024.

Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) plays against / Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Longhorns may have only lost one of their starting offensive linemen from this past season, but based on the way that left tackle Kelvin Banks was answering questions this week there may be a battle.

For Banks, he has been protecting Quinn Ewers' blindside since the moment he set foot on campus, and is one of the best left tackles in the entire country. He was recently asked about the offensive line unit, and spoke highly of how they are looking but did discuss a brewing battle. The left guard spot appears to be one that could be in the midst of a heated battle between last year's starter Hayden Conner, and former four-star Neto Umeozulu.

Longhorns football offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. / Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA

When asked about how Umeozulu had been doing, Banks provided his insight on the situation.

"He's doing good," explained Banks. "Him and Hayden Conner have been rotating in and out with those spots and like I said there's no drop-off. They're both basically the same player, same mindset we all think the same so it's been real good."

When asked a follow-up on where Umeozulu has made the most progress, Banks explained that the Allen, Texas native has improved all-around.

" I would say in every aspect of his game. Neto...he's an aggressive player so I feel like that's always been there for him, he's never lacked aggressiveness but just him understanding the game..."

While that battle ensues to the right of Banks, there is a more glaring one over at the opposite tackle spot following the departure of Christian Jones who had been a Longhorn for what felt like a decade. That is the one that everyone has circled, and while Banks didn't directly speak on the matter, he did say on multiple occasions that he's confident in the group regardless of who is in.