Texas football junior Kelvin Banks Jr. still seems like a lock to be picked on the first day of the NFL draft, now the only question is how long will he wait.
Banks has slid down a couple draft boards - going from the unanimous pick for the first tackle to be taken in the draft, to jockeying with LSU's Will Campbell and Ohio State John Simmons for that claim. But if you want to hear his name called at next spring's NFL draft, I suggest you don't tune in too late.
Banks had a 5.16-second 40-yard dash Sunday at the combine, which is a middling time for this year's class. His 20-yard shuttle time of 4.66 seconds placed a big higher within the tackle group.
The unanimous first-team All-American is the best left tackle in the country and could be the first Longhorn at his position to go in the first round since Mike Williams went with the second overall pick to Buffalo in 2002.
Banks was inserted into the lineup from the day he arrived from Humble Summer Creek. He started 39 consecutive games before an ankle injury incurred at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving weekend sidelined him for the SEC championship game loss to Georgia.
This season, he became the first player in program history to win both the Outland and Lombardi awards in the same season.
Here's what to know about the standout Longhorn and how draft experts view his transition to the NFL:
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Banks did not complete all the drills at the combine.
Notes: Lombardi Award winner in 2024... allowed just three sacks through his first 37 games... Tabbed as an All-American by several different outlets... Was a consensus top-10 tackle prospect in the nation coming out of high school... Blocked for NFL running backs such as Jonathon Brooks and Bijan Robinson.
Strengths: Great athleticism, particularly lateral movement in pass protection. Exceptional range as a blocker translates well to a zone scheme. Good hand usage allows him to win one-on-one matchups. Fluid mover who reacts well to counter moves.
Weaknesses: Balance in run blocking. Sometimes overextends at the point of contact. Struggles to maintain his base in pass protection by turning his shoulders. Needs to improve upper body strength.
What Cedric Golden noticed: Banks can go a whole game without getting mentioned because he is so consistent at stoning opposing defensive ends. His athleticism leaps off the screen. Scouts are even more excited because he carries a frame that will occupy more muscle as he matures. Banks is a nice guy, but there's a dog behind that megawatt smile. He takes it personally when someone in an opposing uniform touches his quarterback. He understands the job and his own toughest critic. That will serve him well at the next level.
Longtime ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. had rated Banks the No. 10 prospect overall, regardless of position, and top tackle on his big board. But Banks has since slid down to No. 23 and the No. 4 tackle.
Here's where various scouting analysts and services rank Banks:
The NFL draft order isn't set quite yet but that hasn't stopped several prognosticators from making predictions based on the latest standings. This section will be updated as more mock drafts become available, but most have Banks as a first-round pick.
2023: 14 games, 985 snaps (550 pass-block snaps), 1 sack allowed, 10 QB hurries allowed (per Pro Football Focus)