The entire 2024 Texas roster was loaded with plenty of pro talent, but out of all the prospects to come out of Texas this year, Kelvin Banks Jr. was the one who stood out the most. Banks was a top recruit from a Texas high school, starting from day one at Left Tackle. He managed to hold his own as a Freshman, only allowing 12 pressures on 434 pass-pro snaps. Since then, he’s only progressively developed and was one of the top offensive linemen by his Junior year.
I get the sense Texas puts more emphasis on prioritizing pass-pro for their Tackles. We’ll break down his film and get into the details. He’d show very promising moments as a run blocker but didn’t fully bring the intensity in that department every game. Banks Jr. has the most upside as a pass-protector, however, as he has the prototypical build to block elite pass rushers. He likely won’t hit the ground running for a particular reason but with some time to develop, this guy has franchise Tackle written all over him.
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Banks shows his top-notch athleticism and makes a pancake block in space in the clip above. He initially sells his block like a normal inside run then explodes outside after the reverse pitch and quickly finds a Linebacker and bulldozes him.
In this one, Banks Jr. has a tough challenge facing Mykel Williams but is able to hold his own as he did most of the game. Mykel attempts a stutter against him, but Banks keeps a steady base and doesn’t lean forward and give up the inside. His kick slide here also aided him in putting him in a good position to succeed.
Here, Banks Jr. showcases his power and ability to drive block. It’s a gap scheme, and he does a fine job of getting to the second level and wreaking havoc on the linebacker.
OVR Grade: 1-100
| Individual trait scale (1-7): |
|---|
| 7 – Rare world-class skill; best in the league and no room for improvement | 6 – Great-elite skill; one of the best at that given trait but still has some room to improve | 5 – Very good; above average and has potential to be elite | 4 – Average; able to suffice but, not ideal long-term | 3 – Below average; able to suffice at college level | 2 – Poor; hinders overall play and is a liability to the team | 1 – Awful; not good enough to play given position at any level above D2 | Note: Consistency plays a large factor. |
| Overall Draft grade scale (1-100, realistically: 52-86): |
|---|
| 85 – Perfect prospect | 81 – Bluechip prospect | 79 – Day one quality starter or superstar potential | 77 – Day one starter w/ all-pro upside | 76 – Day one starter w/ high-end upside | 75 – Day One Starter | 74 – Boom or bust | 73 – Will become quality starter within 2-3 years | 72 – Boom or bust (high risk) | 70 – Will become starter within 2-3 years | 68 – Day-one backup with starter upside |
Kelvin Banks Jr. has prototypical franchise Tackle traits with an impressive development track, showing he can be the ideal long-term answer at Left Tackle.
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Many casual draft fans may be lower on Kelvin Banks Jr. because he’s not some flashy new toy for an offense. However, he’s very refined as a run blocker and has a lot of bright spots as a pass protector. He will initially struggle, as mentioned because he needs more experience and growth playing in traditional passing downs. So much of Texas was fake counters, screens, and things of that nature. Moving to the NFL will be a dramatic change. Andrew Thomas was in a very similar position coming out as well. When he got to the pros, it looked ugly, but over time, he became accustomed to true pass sets and is now dominant in pass-pro. Banks Jr. who has a similar physique, could end up just like Andrew Thomas hence why I gave him that comparison.
Banks Jr. has all the physical upside to be elite. He may be far from there, but this is someone who’s shown excellent development from year to year. Put him on a team like San Francisco or Chicago with elite offensive minds who know how to maximize their O-Line talent, and he’d be a rock. It’s hard to say if he’ll make it that far, but I’d be surprised if one of those teams didn’t take him if he’s even available. Banks Jr. gets a first-round grade for me, but with how many teams could use a young Tackle like him, his value is practically top-five. Many will go on to be studs from this Texas team, but I get the feeling Banks Jr. will be one of the most memorable down the line.
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