Texas Football: Kelvin Banks blossoming into a ‘leader by example’

One of the deepest position groups for Texas football in 2023 will be along the offensive line. Texas and offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood return every single one of the starters in a unit that was one of the most improved position groups for this entire team in 2022.

Texas graded out as the second-most efficient unit in terms of pass-blocking efficiency (per PFF) during the 2022 season. And according to Football Outsiders, Texas ranked among the top 35 teams in the FBS in 2022 in terms of average line yards per carry and standard down line yards per carry.

A major reason why Texas’ play along the offensive line improved so much last fall was the addition of the Freshman All-American offensive tackle and former elite five-star recruit Kelvin Banks Jr. The 6-foot-5 and 320-pound Banks was a rock for Texas at left tackle as he emerged as the most talented and one of the most proficient players at his position in the Big 12.

It’s also hard to argue that Banks was not the best freshman left tackle in the Power Five last season.

Texas football has a “leader by example” emerging in second-year OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

And it only added to the hype surrounding his true freshman campaign that Banks ended the 2022 season with the longest streak of pass-blocking snaps in the Power Five among offensive tackles without allowing a single quarterback pressure.

Banks was a stud for Flood and the Longhorns last season. There will only be more excitement surrounding his game in 2023.

From the early indications coming out of winter workouts, it sounds like Banks only continues to improve and become a more pronounced leader in the locker room. According to a report from Horns247 on Feb. 9 (paid content), Banks has “attacked winter conditioning with the same intensity he attacked opposing defensive linemen”.

This report also notes that Banks has become one of the most noticeable Longhorns players right away this offseason. He is reportedly turning into a “leader by example”, which is evident in terms of the impact he’s had on some of his teammates in winter workouts.

Banks is the type of leader that Flood and the Longhorns need along the offensive line to help lead by example for guys like incoming freshmen Jaydon Chatman, Connor Stroh, Trevor Goosby, etc.

Moreover, the fact that we are talking about Banks as one of the most noticeable leaders emerging along the offensive line early this offseason says a lot about his game and personality given how much experience Flood has coming back for this group in 2023. Banks seems to be getting more attention than offensive linemen that have more experience than him such as rising junior center Jake Majors, junior IOL Hayden Conner, and redshirt senior offensive tackle Christian Jones.

Banks is entering the second year of what is likely to be a three-season run for him on the Forty Acres before he takes his talents to the NFL. He had a sensational true freshman campaign and will only continue to prove his status as a future first-round draft pick next fall.