Kelvin Banks is a Lombardi Award semifinalist, and you should appreciate his play at LT while you still can
The news was recently dropped that Texas starting left tackle Kelvin Banks is a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award , which is essentially an award for football players who participate in the scrum of "the box."
Linemen on both sides along with tight ends and linebackers are all eligible. The last Longhorn to win the Lombardi was Brian Orakpo in 2008. It's fitting the next Texas player to win would be a left tackle who's job is to stop guys like Orakpo. On the other hand, if Banks can't quite garner the award perhaps the next Longhorn to get it will be the Orakpo-esque Colin Simmons in a future season.
Banks has been having an outstanding season whether he's next in line from Austin or not.
Steve Sarkisian has been able to rely on him in the offense in a number of ways which have tremendous impact. The slide protections commentators have highlighted for getting the Longhorns into trouble often ask him to play 1-on-1 against the Edge to his side, which he's shown he can do against the best pass-rushing prospects in the country.
Most recently against Georgia and Mykel Williams ...
Banks' ability to change direction and move his feet while possessing a powerful base is ideal for the position. You won't see him get beat hardly ever and when he appeared beat against Georgia, it was typically more a reflection on pocket mismanagement at quarterback than poor blocking.
Those same traits are exceptionally valuable in the run game where he can execute reach blocks and find second level targets coming off combinations...
...as well as in the screen game getting out into space:
Banks will have several more challenges this season, particularly against rival Texas A&M and the Aggies' 3rd down pass-rushing tandem of Nic Scourton Cashius Howell . Ideally after passing that test the rest of the team will set him up for more challenges in the SEC Championship Game or playoffs.
In the meantime, enjoy Banks and give him some attention the next time you watch a game rather than simply letting your eyes follow the ball. The Longhorn left tackle is a bear dancing on a tripwire putting on a show of athleticism every week any football fan should be able to appreciate.
