The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3/3/3 Football’s Banks selected as Outland Trophy semifinalist
11.20.2024 | Football
The senior left tackle is one of seven semifinalists for the 2024 Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football junior left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has been selected as one of seven semifinalists for the 2024 Outland Trophy, the Greater Omaha Sports Committee announced Wednesday evening. The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's best college interior lineman on offense or defense.
Four Longhorns have previously won the Outland Trophy, which has been given annually since 1946. Most recently, defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat won the award in 2024. Defensive tackle Scott Appleton brought home the award in 1963, while guard Tommy Nobis collected the trophy in 1965 and defensive tackle Brad Shearer won the honor in 1977. All four of Texas' Outland Trophy recipients are native Texans.
In addition to being named an Outland Trophy semifinalist, Banks was also tabbed a finalist for the Lombardi Award and a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award.
Banks is a third-year offensive lineman who has played in and started in 37 games with the Longhorns. The Humble, Texas, product received multiple national honors this season, including the Outland Trophy's National Player of the Week on Oct. 15 and SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 30 and Oct. 14. Prior to the season, Banks was named preseason First-Team All-America by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News and The Athletic in addition to being honored on the preseason First-Team All-SEC by the media and league's coaches. He was also on to the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award preseason watch lists.
Behind Banks' veteran leadership on the offensive line this season, Texas ranks ninth nationally in team passing efficiency (162.81), 12th in passing offense (288.6), 13th in completion percentage (67.9 percent) and scoring offense (37.0 ppg), and 18th in total offense (450.2 ypg). The line has protected QB Quinn Ewers, who also sits amongst the nation's best in several individual statistical categories, including 13th in completion percentage (68.4 percent), 16th in passing touchdowns (21), and 18th in passing efficiency (156.2).
Through 10 games, Texas is averaging 37 points per game, 450.2 total yards per game and 6.5 yards per play. The 6.5 yards per play currently stands sixth in UT history, while the offense's 288.6 passing yards per game is fifth. Last season's offense finished third in total offense (477.5) and fourth in yards per play (6.67).
The field for the 2024 Outland Trophy is as follows: offensive tackles Kelvin Banks Jr., of Texas, Will Campbell of LSU and Wyatt Milum of West Virginia; center Seth McLaughlin of Ohio State; guard Addison West of Western Michigan; and defensive tackles Mason Graham of Michigan and Walter Nolen of Ole Miss.
The semifinalists will be pared to three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12. 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. 22, 2025.
Banks and Texas take on Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 23, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the Longhorns' final regular season home game. The game will broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) on the call.
