Saturday Prospect Spotlight: Left Tackle Solution

We entertain the trenches today with a potential answer at left tackle for the foreseeable future.

(Photo - University of Texas Athletics)

We have some big ones on the slate this weekend, folks. The college landscape keeps evolving and with that evolution we get more premiere programs squaring off for marquee games and we’ll be focused on Texas hosting Georgia for a showdown of Top-5 teams in the new SEC. Just a massive game between two teams loaded with NFL talent. But the slate also has other massive matchups like Alabama-Tennessee, LSU-Arkansas, and the hidden B1G duel between Nebraska and undefeated Indiana. Unfortunately the Browns are giving us more reasons weekly to think they might be inside the Top-10 of this draft and we have to start studying marquee prospects closely—in October. Not what we expected.

Reminder: As the Browns make a return to the first round of this year's NFL Draft, each Saturday we will highlight a player worth watching with the Browns’ prospect preferences in mind!

Obviously we will focus on the highest-ranked prospects this year because the Browns could have a wide range of outcomes for their pick, but we hope they select the 32nd overall prospect following a Super Bowl win but we will expand beyond that scope at times.

There are some big holes in the roster that need young talent solutions as we keep focusing on quarterback, wide receiver, and now offensive tackle today. The one I keep finding myself drawn to is our focus today: Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas.

(Photo - Getty)

History

Banks is one of the those early prodigies who you could sense was going to impact his college choice quickly. Banks grew up in Humble, Texas and attended Summer Creek High School where he was a five star recruit and the second highest rated player out of Texas in the 2022 class. He was also the 30th overall prospect in the country.

Banks originally committed to Oregon but de-committed when head coach Mario Cristobal left for Miami. Banks then chose Texas over Texas A&M, LSU, and Oklahoma State. He enrolled at Texas in July of 2022 and was named a starter as a true freshman at left tackle. He hasn’t missed a snap since. He earned first-team All Big-XII in 2023.

Stats

2022: 868 snaps, 2 sacks allowed, 9 pressures allowed, 71.0 blocking grade

2023: 985 snaps, 1 sacks allowed, 10 pressures allowed, 75.3 blocking grade

2024 (6 games): 365 snaps, 0 sacks allowed, 1 pressures allowed, 81.5 blocking grade, 89.9 pass blocking grade

Scouting Report