The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 4/4/3 Football lands seven on All-SEC Teams
12.10.2024 | Football
Seven Longhorns received All-SEC praise from the league office on Tuesday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Headlined by two first-team All-SEC performers, seven Texas Longhorns earned All-SEC praise, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon. Junior left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was named first-team All-SEC on offense while senior defensive back Jahdae Barron received first-team All-SEC recognition on defense. Junior quarterback Quinn Ewers and senior tight end Gunnar Helm were tabbed second-team All-SEC on offense, sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was nodded second-team all-SEC on defense, sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner was named third-team All-SEC on offense and senior defensive back Andrew Mukuba landed on the third-team defense.
Banks, a finalist for the 2024 Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy and Joe Moore Award, is a third-year offensive lineman who has played in and started in 39 games on the Forty Acres. 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. With Banks' veteran leadership in the trenches, UT's offense ranks No. 13 in the FBS in passing offense (281 ypg), 15th in team passing efficiency (154.92), 16th in completion percentage (66.3 percent), 18th in total offense (445.4 ypg) and 25th in scoring offense (33.6 ppg). The Texas offense has rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of 12 games and three different Longhorn running backs have each registered at least one 100-yard effort.
Barron, who was selected as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award, has proven to be one of the nation's' elite defensive players this season. A fifth-year defensive back, Barron has played in 54 career games with 36 starts. Following Texas' 20-10 road win at Arkansas on Nov. 16, Barron was recognized as the Thorpe Award's National Player of the Week, the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the Reese's Senior Bowl's Defensive Player of the Week. Prior to the 2024 season, he was named preseason second-team All-SEC on defense and selected to the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurksi Trophy and Bednarik Award. Barron is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the nation, consistently playing multiple positions in the Texas defensive backfield, while providing leadership as a fifth-year veteran. Through 13 games, the Austin, Texas, native leads the Longhorns in interceptions (5) and pass break-ups (9) to go along with 47 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble. Barron paces the SEC and ranks third in the FBS in total interceptions this season while guiding a UT defense that leads the nation in turnovers gained (28) and passing yards allowed (143.1 ypg). In addition, Texas ranks No. 2 in the FBS in scoring defense (12.5 pp) and team passing efficiency defense (95.19) while sitting third in passes intercepted (19) and total defense (249.5). The Horns also rank fifth nationally in first down defense (196), sixth in third-down conversion percentage defense (30.6 percent), seventh in red zone defense (71.4 percent), 12th in team tackles for loss (7.3) and 15th in rushing defense (106.4).
Ewers, the junior signal-caller, is a third-year player who has played in and started 33 games, igniting the Longhorns to 25 victories. In 11 starts in 2024, Ewers has completed 233-of-352 passes (66.2 percent) for 2,665 yards and 25 touchdowns while averaging 242.27 yards per contest. A finalist for the Manning Award, Ewers was also named a 2024 semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, 88th Maxwell Award Collegiate Player of the Year, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose and Davey O'Brien National Quarterback awards. In addition, Ewers was tabbed a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 Finalist on Oct. 31 and was also named to the Davey O'Brien Award QB Class of 2024. Ewers has earned a plethora of weekly honors this season, including SEC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9), Manning Award Star of the Week (Sept. 9), Reese's Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9), Davey O'Brien Great 8 (Sept. 9), Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week (Sept. 10), Maxwell Award Player of the Week (Sept. 10), Davey O'Brien Great 8 (Nov. 11), East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback (Nov. 11) and Manning Award Star of the Week (Nov. 11). Prior to the season, Ewers was named to preseason watch lists for the Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award, Manning Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award along with being named preseason second-team All-SEC by the media and league's coaches. Ewers spearheads a UT offense that ranks No. 13 in the FBS in passing offense (281 ypg), 15th in team passing efficiency (154.92), 16th in completion percentage (66.3 percent), 18th in total offense (445.4 ypg) and 25th in scoring offense (33.6 ppg). Individually, Ewers stands 17th in the FBS in passing touchdowns (17), 23rd in completion percentage (66.2 percent), completions per game (21.18) and points responsible for per game (14.4). Ewers boasts a 24-game passing touchdown streak – the longest active streak by an FBS quarterback and the second-longest streak in program history behind Colt McCoy's program-record 29 games. The Southlake, Texas, product ranks third and fourth in the program's record book in passing touchdowns (61) and passing yards (8,321).
Helm, who was also previously named a semifinalist for the John Mackey and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards, has been a weapon in the Texas offense this season. The tight end from Englewood, Colo., leads the Horns in receptions with 49 and is second on the team in receiving yards with 611. Helm has gathered five touchdown receptions and has averaged 47 yards per game in 13 starts for the Longhorns. He finished with five receptions for 51 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in the 31-14 win vs. Kentucky on Nov. 23. Helm joined Ja'Tavion Sanders (2 vs. WVU on Oct. 1; 2 vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 8) as the only Texas tight ends over the last 12 seasons to have a game with multiple receiving touchdowns in a game after Sanders accomplished the feat during the 2022 season. Helm's 17-yard touchdown against Kentucky in the second quarter was his fifth receiving touchdown on the season, which is tied for the third most by a tight end in a single season in program history. In the win vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 12, Helm led the team with five receptions for 91 yards (18.2 ypc) with a touchdown. He registered his fourth career touchdown reception and the second of the season after he caught a seven-yard pass from QB Quinn Ewers in the second quarter. Helm had a career day in Texas' 31-12 win at No. 10/9 Michigan on Sept. 7. Against the Wolverines, set career highs in both receptions with a team-best seven and receiving yards with a team-high 98 (14 ypc). Helm tallied 45 yards after catch as well vs. Michigan. As a team, Michigan only compiled 51 yards after catch against Texas. Three of his receptions also went for 20+ yards.
Hill, a second-year linebacker from Denton, Texas, earned spots on semifinalist lists for the Bednarik and Butkus awards this season. In 13 starts, Hill is Texas' leading tackler (90) and paces the team in tackles for loss (16) and forced fumbles (4). Hill has combined for a team-leading three double-digit tackle games this season. He also has tallied the second-most sacks on the team with 7.5 and third-most quarterback hurries with four. Additionally, Hill has compiled an interception, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery. Hill set career single-game highs of two sacks and four tackles for loss as part of 11 total tackles in addition to forcing a fumble as he led Texas to a 31-14 win over Kentucky on Nov. 23, picking up Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. In the 27-24 win at No. 25/25 Vanderbilt on Oct. 26, Hill posted eight tackles (five solo), two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up. Against No. 5/4 Georgia on Oct. 19, Hill had eight tackles (four solo), 1.5 tackles for a loss of four yards, including a sack for a loss of two yards. Hill earned national praise following his standout performance in Texas' 34-3 win over No. 18/16 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Oct. 12. He garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15), Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 16) and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades (Oct. 14). Against the Sooners, Hill compiled 11 tackles (seven solo), two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pressure in Texas' win. Notching his second double-digit tackling effort of his career and season, Hill had his second career forced fumble while matching his career highs in tackles with 11 and sacks with two while tallying a career high 3.5 tackles for loss. It was Hill's fourth-straight game with a sack.
Wisner, a second-year running back from Glenn Heights, Texas, has played in 12 games with nine starts and leads the Horns with 912 rushing yards on 176 carries (4.9 ypc), three touchdowns while averaging 71.92 yards per game. Hill has output a team-leading three 100-yard rushing performances in 12 games (118 vs. Oklahoma, 158 vs. Kentucky and 186 vs. Texas A&M). Wisner was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award's National Player of the Week on Dec. 3 and garnered SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors on Dec. 2 following his dominant performance in Texas' 17-7 win at No. 20/19/20 Texas A&M to close out the regular season. He rushed for a career-high 186 yards on 33 carries (5.6 ypc) and added two catches for 21 yards to total 207 yards in helping lead Texas to a 17-7 road victory in the renewal of its rivalry against No. 20 Texas A&M. The 186 rushing yards is the fourth-most ever by a Longhorn in the storied series history against Texas A&M. Wisner joined a group in the top five of that category that includes UT legends Cedric Benson, Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell. Wisner has the fourth-most rushing yards (912) by an SEC player this season. Wisner also ranks fifth on the team in receptions (32) and eighth in receiving yards (229) to go along with a 50-yard touchdown reception. Wisner has assembled 1,141 yards of total offense this season.
Mukuba, a senior and first-year defensive back for the Longhorns, has played in 12 games this season (missed Vanderbilt game due to injury). The Austin, Texas, native has accumulated the fourth-most tackles by a Longhorn defender this season (52) and ranks second on the team in interceptions with four. He also has corralled the third-most pass break-ups (5) while recording four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. The dynamic backfield playmaker logged four tackles (three solo) and an interception he returned for three yards in UT's 31-12 road victory at No. 10/9 Michigan on Sept. 7. In the top-five showdown vs. Georgia on Oct. 19, Mukuba notched five total stops and an interception against the Bulldogs. He followed suit with a six-tackle and one interception effort in the home victory against Florida on Nov. 9 – posting back-to-back games with an interception. Mukuba also hauled in an interception to go along with five tackles in the regular season home finale vs. Kentucky on Nov. 23. In the SEC Championship game vs. Georgia on Dec. 7, Mukuba collected a season-high 11 tackles (10 solo), a forced fumble and a pass break-up.
Texas will be making its second College Football Playoff appearance in as many years after earning a No. 3 ranking in the CFP poll and the No. 5 overall seed. The Horns will host No. 13/13/16 Clemson at 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 21, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the CFP first round. The game will broadcast on TNT with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call. The first round winner will advance to the CFP Quarterfinal at the 57th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and face the Big 12 Champion and No. 4 seed Arizona State at Noon C.T. on Jan. 1, 2025, in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will air on an ABC/ESPN platform.
