One Texas Longhorns star rapidly falling down NFL Draft boards following NFL Combine despite incredibly strong athletic testing
The Texas Longhorns are sending an absolutely stacked set of talents to the 2025 NFL Draft. There should be 10 or more Longhorns selected this year, with many of them likely hearing their name inside the Top 100 picks overall. However, one former Texas star is rapidly and inexplicably falling down NFL Draft boards according […]
The Texas Longhorns are sending an absolutely stacked set of talents to the 2025 NFL Draft. There should be 10 or more Longhorns selected this year, with many of them likely hearing their name inside the Top 100 picks overall. However, one former Texas star is rapidly and inexplicably falling down NFL Draft boards according to the latest mock draft data and buzz around the league coming out of the NFL Combine.
Kelvin Banks, former five star offensive tackle and three-year starter for the Longhorns has long been a first round projection for the 2025 NFL Draft, but in recent weeks his stock has taken a nose dive. He was a perceived lock for top ten capital for quite some time, but since early February, and especially the NFL Combine, his stock has tumbled into the teens (as you can see in the image below). Why is that? And is it justified?
Every single year it seems that the masses tend to overreact (for better or for worse) to the forty-yard dash. Based on conversations I had in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine and shortly thereafter some clearly were not impressed by Banks' speed.
While there is some verifiable predictive signal to be gleaned from forty yard dash times and future efficiency and success for offensive tackles, it's quite overblown. And while Banks' raw 5.16 second in the forty-yard dash wasn't as mind-blowing as some of the other potential first round tackles this year it was still 73rd percentile among offensive linemen in the last 20 years. Plus, Banks posted an 80th percentile Burst Score thanks to his jumps too, yet it seems that's largely ignored. Any "concern" with his athleticism is misplaced.
Regardless of where Banks is drafted Texas fans and his future NFL team should be confident that he's going to succeed at offensive tackle. When I talked with Banks at the NFL Combine about his journey as a five star recruit and still needing to "earn it" with his starting role, this is what he had to say:
"My mentality coming in [to Texas] was definitely to keep my head down and earn it. I never that it would be handed to me. So, my mindset was to go in, work hard, and if the position is yours you get it. If you don't then put your head down and keep going back to work. That's the same mentality I have [now]. I know the talent I have. I know what type of person I am. And I know what type of player I am. And I feel like I'm good enough to get that starting job [in the NFL], but now it's just all about me going out there, getting the work done, being able to focus, learn the playbook, and things like that."
With a mindset like that, a 78th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score, and three straight seasons near 99% pass blocking efficiency (via multiple charting services) there's no way Kelvin Banks doesn't succeed in the NFL. If he continues to drop deeper into the first round some lucky team is going to find themselves a potential All-Pro talent.
Banks is currently competing with Will Campbell (LSU), Armand Membou (Missouri), Josh Simmons (Ohio State), and Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) for the top offensive tackle spot in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's a strong group, but Banks certainly deserves early first round consideration alongside them.
We'll be back with more Texas Longhorns coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to look back on some of the dominant plays that made Kelvin Banks a future first round pick you can check out some of his highlights in the video below!
