Kelvin Banks named an On3 Preseason True Freshman All-American
The preseason accolades continue to roll in for Texas Longhorns football players, including those who have yet to take an in-game snap. Offensive lineman Kelvin Banks was named a Preseason True Freshman All-American by On3 on Tuesday.
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The full list of first-year players honored by On3 can be found here.
Banks, a 6-foot-5, 318-pound tackle from Humble (Texas) Summer Creek, was ranked as the No. 19 overall 2022 prospect, the No. 1 offensive tackle, and the No. 4 prospect in Texas according to the 2022 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
On3 rated Banks as the No. 6 prospect in the country, the No. 1 tackle, and the No. 1 prospect in Texas.
Banks was once committed to Oregon but decommitted from the Ducks on December 6, 2021. Five days later, Banks committed to the Longhorns. He signed with Texas on December 15 and was part of UT offensive coordinator Kyle Flood’s seven-man O-line class.
On3’s Charles Power on Kelvin Banks
Kelvin Banks was the jewel of Texas’ splendid offensive line haul in the 2022 cycle. The 6-foot-5, 318-pounder was a summer enrollee, but has quickly assimilated. Banks is reportedly already seeing some reps as the first-team left tackle and could be in line to start on the blindside as early as week one. Banks’ combination of length, flexibility, nimble feet and ready-made size make him one of the prime contenders to make a splash as a true freshman offensive lineman.
Excerpt from Kelvin Banks’ Recruiting Notebook
How he fits: Banks is exactly the sort of offensive lineman who has defined some of the primary differences between Texas and Oklahoma or some of the SEC powerhouses who regularly factor into the end of year playoff rankings. He has a different level of athleticism and power at the point of attack which can translate up and down the line. His length and quickness means he’ll start at tackle and his early success with the kick step and using his athleticism and power to hold off blockers mean he has a good chance to be the left tackle of the future. – Ian Boyd
Strengths – Good height and size for any position on the line from day one. Doesn’t carry a lot of extra weight in the midsection. Good wingspan to play OT. Good hip/knee bend. Balanced in and out of his stance. Pad level is excellent off the ball and does not get upright easily. Has exceptional feet for a man this size with great lateral movement on both outside zone and counter. Gets to the second level easily and straight-line speed is above average. Is a technical blocker with great hand position and placement. Takes great angles and finishes everything. Clearly has been well-coached. Upper body strength is excellent. One of the few HS OL I’ve seen lately who can transfer lower body power into his blocks. Controls the defender and drives that bus in small spaces and wide open field. Pass sets are good. Protects his inside gap consistently. Mirrors the rusher effectively and stays over his base. Makes the rusher run a huge arc. Keeps legs moving on contact. Strong hands. Can’t find any opponent film that shows anything different from his highlights.
Areas for Improvement / Concern – Not sure we’ve seen his pass sets really challenged by top level rushers. Need to see him against a double move.
