The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Banks named to Outland Trophy watch list
08.01.2023 | Football
Sophomore OL Kelvin Banks Jr. is a candidate for the award that honors college football’s top interior lineman.
DALLAS – Texas sophomore OL Kelvin Banks Jr. was named to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday. The Outland Trophy is awarded annually the nation's top interior lineman.
A trio of Longhorns have previously won the Outland Trophy (Scott Appleton, 1963; Tommy Nobis, 1965; Brad Shearer, 1977), and four others have been finalists (Dan Neil, 1996; Leonard Davis, 2000; Justin Blalock, 2006; Malcom Brown, 2014).
Kelvin Banks Jr. has been named to the Outland Trophy preseason watch list 🤘 @Kelvinbanksjr12 pic.twitter.com/9PgGw3dYGH
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) August 1, 2023
Banks played in and started all 13 games at left tackle as a true freshman last season, earning Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Banks anchored an offensive line that helped Texas average 34.5 points per game, the 17th-highest scoring average among Power 5 programs, and 429.5 yards per game, the 23rd-best mark among Power 5 teams. The Humble, Texas was also named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and chosen to ESPN's True Freshman All-America team. A semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award he also earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from both the league's coaches and the Associated Press.
In addition to the Outland Trophy, Banks was selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team by the league's media representatives and a Preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
The recipient of the 78th Outland Trophy will be announced during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 10, 2024.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
