Texas LT Kelvin Banks close to earning something that will bolster his NFL draft stock even more
Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is headed to the NFL this spring via the draft. He’s starting a family, got a new baby on the way and will likely be a first-round draft pick. On Wednesday, Banks learned he might be soon picking up some major hardware, too. Banks is one of four players […]
Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is headed to the NFL this spring via the draft. He’s starting a family, got a new baby on the way and will likely be a first-round draft pick.
On Wednesday, Banks learned he might be soon picking up some major hardware, too.
Banks is one of four players to be named finalists for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation’s best lineman. LSU’s Will Campbell, Penn State’s Abdul Carter and South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard were also honored as finalists.
The winner will be announced at the annual award dinner on Dec. 11 at the Hilton America’s in downtown Houston.
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Banks has started from the moment he arrived at Texas. Now in his third season, Banks is a huge reason why the third-ranked Longhorns are in SEC title and College Football Playoff contention. He was a freshman All-American and simply never stopped improving.
Banks is playing his best this season, according to the grades compiled by Pro Football Focus. He allowed only one sack through the first nine games and has allowed only three all season.
The Horns rank 13th nationally in scoring (37 points per game).
“We have so many guys who could just go out and make a play any given moment of the game,” Banks said Monday.
Banks could become the fourth player in UT history to win the award, but he already joins a long and distinguished list of finalists. Kenneth Sims (1981), Tony Degrate (1984) and Brian Orakpo (2008) were all Lombardi winners. Nine other UT players have been named finalists, including future Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael (1979).
