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Attention to detail and constant work help Kelvin Banks, Texas’ benchmark left tackle, be his best

Steve Habelby: Steve Habel04/13/23stevehabel
kelvin-banks-on-the-move
Quinn Ewers, Kelvin Banks (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

There have been plenty of eye-opening moments for Texas sophomore Kelvin Banks in the 10 months since he joined the Longhorns football team last summer as his work ethic, physical gifts and attention to detail have catapulted him from untested to unrivaled in that short period of time.

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Banks, a 6-foot-4, 318-pound specimen on the offensive line, was a fixture in the Longhorns’ lineup at left tackle as a freshman in 2022, when he played and started in all 13 games. His work at the position led to his selection as a second-team All-Big 12 Selection by both the Big 12 Conference’s coaches and the Associated Press.

Banks was also voted honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league’s coaches as a stalwart among the Texas’ offensive front that had all five players start every game.

Banks met with the media on Thursday after the team finished up its last Spring practice in advance of the annual Orange-White game on Saturday. Asked if he felt like a veteran now after last season, he said he still has plenty of work to do to get to that status.

“Coming in last summer I had a lot to work on in a short amount of time,” Banks explained. “And I think the coaches were trusting me in that short amount of time to be to be the guy that I had to be. Being able to have a full offseason is doing good for me so far.”

Banks is always looking to improve, with a big focal point this offseason on his footwork.

“This spring I’ve worked on my footwork and to make sure my technique is sound,” he said. “I just worked on my craft. I have one of the best coaches, coach Flood, and he’s been on me since day one and trying to get me to work on technique and on all the little things. So I feel like those are things that helped me the most prepare for last season and will help me going forward.”

Banks has never been afraid of the work. He came in last year with the goal to get playing time and push to be a starter and accomplished that and more.

“Anybody coming into college as a freshman feels like they want to want to play, but it’s all about the work you put in and how much you really want it,” Banks said. “So I did not come in thinking I had a spot. I came in thinking I had to work for my spot.

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“Technique was the biggest part. You know, anybody can go out there and throw their helmet around and hit people. But I feel like if you focus on the little thing that what helps be to try to be the best. That’s what helped me excel.”

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