Four first-rounders battled Kelvin Banks in 2022. The freshman more than held his own against all four.
Alabama, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Kansas State were four of the opponents on Texas’ 2022 schedule, and they all boasted first-round talent at defensive end. Those teams produced No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson, No. 7 overall pick Tyree Wilson, No. 15 overall pick Will McDonald, and No. 31 overall pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, respectively.
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Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks faced all four of those players during his first season in college football. In those contests versus the Crimson Tide, the Red Raiders, the Cyclones, and the Wildcats, Banks allowed zero sacks, gave up four total pressures, and committed no penalties according to Pro Football Focus.
Banks, a five-star in the class of 2022 who was the On3 Industry Ranking‘s No. 22 overall prospect and On3‘s No. 6 recruit, didn’t face a member of that impressive foursome in every single one of his 280 snaps during those games. But a significant majority of them did have a top EDGE across the line of scrimmage from him, and Banks turned in impressive pass-blocking performances on nearly every rep.
His PFF pass blocking grade versus Alabama across 45 opportunities was 81.9. Not only did those snaps have him facing Anderson, but also Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell.
Versus Texas Tech with 36 chances, his pass blocking grade was 80.8.
Against the Cyclones with 29 reps versus McDonald and others, he posted a season-best pass blocking grade of 83.2.
His lowest pass blocking grade in those contests came versus Anudike-Uzomah and a stout K-State defensive front. In 32 chances, he posted a pass blocking grade of 60.6.
For a true freshman trying to frequently stop four first-round caliber pass rushers from reaching either Quinn Ewers or Hudson Card, that’s an impressive first line on a resume.
The 32 NFL franchises have probably started doing their homework on Banks, On3’s top offensive tackle in the 2022 class, even though Banks isn’t eligible to declare until the 2025 draft. Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood know they have a special player in the Texas offensive line room, and they are likely aware they’ll have just three seasons with Banks barring anything unforeseen.
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, who once had Banks committed to the Cowboys, said as much ahead of Texas’ loss to OSU during the 2022 campaign.
“The left tackle they have, the one we had committed here for a long time, the good news is after three years, he’ll be gone,” Gundy said in October.
Texas flipped Banks not from Oklahoma State, but Oregon. Banks and fellow Longhorn Cam Williams both committed to Mario Cristobal‘s program during the summer of 2021. Once Cristobal left Eugene for Miami and the Hurricanes, Banks and Williams opened up their recruitments. In short order, Texas landed commitments from both.
Their additions to Texas’ seven-man offensive line class, one of the best OL classes in the recruiting rankings era, paid immediate dividends. A summer enrollee out of Humble (Texas) Summer Creek, Banks zoomed to the top of the left tackle depth chart and became the game one starter at the position.
He manned that spot for all 13 games, picking up second-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. He also was an honorable mention for Big 12 offensive freshman of the year and offensive lineman of the year. The FWAA named him a freshman All-American in January.
Banks will be considered one of the top offensive linemen in the conference, if not the country, heading into the 2023 season. He’s liable to be found on preseason All-Big 12 and even preseason All-America teams, plus a number of award watchlists after his stellar opening campaign.
He’ll have his share of tests in his second season. Braswell and Turner are still on the Alabama roster, plus other formidable rushers like K-State’s Khalid Duke appear on Texas’ schedule.
Whatever those EDGEs try to throw at him, it likely won’t be as difficult as what Anderson, Wilson, McDonald, and Anudike-Uzomah tried on Banks in their battles — battles where Banks often maintained the upper hand.
