Longhorns Kelvin Banks Named Pro Football Focus Top-10 OT
The Texas Longhorns hauled in an elite offensive line group in the 2022 class, with a handful of those players making an instant impact on the field.
That said, perhaps none of those freshmen made as big of an impact as left tackle Kelvin Banks, who immediately stepped in as the blindside protector for quarterback Quinn Ewers in Week 1, and kept that spot for the entirety of the season.
And now, Banks is beginning to garner the praise he deserves, recently being named a top-10 offensive tackle in the country for the 2023 season by Pro Football Focus.
Said PFF on Banks:
Banks dominated as a pass protector. His 3.5% pressure rate allowed on true pass sets ranked sixth among Power Five tackles. His 98.4 pass-block efficiency score was also second among Big 12 tackles, behind only Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison — a top-25 prospect on PFF’s big board. Banks could become one of the best offensive linemen in the nation next season if he continues developing as a run-blocker, where he earned a 64.9 grade.
What was even more impressive about Banks' on-field success in 2022, however, was the fact that he did not arrive on campus as an early enrollee, instead joining the program after spring football had already concluded.
And despite missing out on those critical months of preparation and on-field reps, Banks was still one of the best offensive tackles in the Big 12.
Heading into next season, with a full offseason including spring football ahead of him, Banks could take a big leap forward and finish the year as one of the top NFL Draft prospects in the country.
Luckily for the Horns, they will have him around for a minimum of two more seasons, with Banks not eligible to enter until the 2025 draft.
You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan
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