NFL draft rankings following Kelvin Banks Jr.’s scouting combine Texas football overtime
NFL Draft Rankings Following Kelvin Banks Jr.’s Scouting Combine: Texas Football Overtime
The NFL Draft is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in American football, offering both college stars and lesser-known prospects a chance to make a mark on the professional stage. As teams prepare for the 2025 season, the draft becomes an annual spectacle that encapsulates hope, hype, and potential for players looking to take the next step in their careers. For college football players, the NFL Scouting Combine serves as a critical event to showcase their skills, athleticism, and mental toughness to professional scouts, coaches, and general managers.
Kelvin Banks Jr., a standout offensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns, made a significant impression during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Known for his incredible strength, quickness, and football intelligence, Banks has long been considered one of the top prospects in his position. With the NFL Draft on the horizon, his performance at the combine had the potential to reshape his draft ranking and solidify his spot as one of the top players available.
In this article, we will dive into the details of Kelvin Banks Jr.’s performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, analyze how it impacted his draft rankings, and explore the bigger picture of how the draft itself will shape the future of the Texas Longhorns and the NFL.
Kelvin Banks Jr.: A Quick Overview
Before diving into the specifics of his combine performance, it is crucial to understand who Kelvin Banks Jr. is as a player. Hailing from Summer Creek High School in Houston, Texas, Banks was a highly recruited offensive tackle and ultimately committed to the University of Texas, where he made an immediate impact.
Banks came to Texas with high expectations, and he did not disappoint. As a true freshman, Banks quickly became a staple on the Longhorns’ offensive line, showcasing his immense potential as a cornerstone for the team’s future success. Known for his combination of size, strength, and technique, Banks earned recognition as one of the most talented offensive tackles in college football. His ability to anchor the offensive line, protect the quarterback, and open up lanes for running backs made him one of the top players to watch in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Banks is known for his 6-foot-4, 325-pound frame, which gives him the size to compete at the next level. His athleticism is also a standout trait; his quickness and ability to move fluidly make him a force both in the passing and running game. But beyond his physical attributes, Banks is also praised for his football IQ, understanding of the game, and the leadership he brings to the offensive line.
The NFL Scouting Combine: A Crucial Stage
The NFL Scouting Combine is an event where prospects are put through a rigorous series of drills and tests in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and team executives. It serves as a platform for prospects to prove their physical and mental capabilities, offering teams a chance to evaluate players in a controlled environment.
At the combine, players are tested in a variety of areas including the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, shuttle drills, and position-specific drills. These tests give scouts a better understanding of a player’s athleticism, explosiveness, agility, and speed. Moreover, players undergo psychological evaluations, medical screenings, and interviews that assess their character, work ethic, and ability to succeed at the NFL level.
For a player like Kelvin Banks Jr., the combine is a key opportunity to solidify his ranking in the draft. Offensive linemen like Banks are primarily evaluated based on their technique, strength, and ability to move in space—qualities that are not always fully captured in traditional highlight reels. How a player performs in combine drills helps NFL teams gauge whether they are ready for the intense and fast-paced nature of the professional game.
Kelvin Banks Jr.’s Performance at the NFL Scouting Combine
Banks entered the NFL Scouting Combine as one of the top offensive tackle prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. After a standout college career, his performance in Indianapolis was closely scrutinized by scouts from all 32 NFL teams. Given his combination of size and athleticism, expectations were high. And for the most part, Banks did not disappoint.
Strength and Explosiveness: Bench Press and Vertical Jump
The first area where Banks showcased his immense power and strength was the bench press. Known for his ability to overpower defensive linemen at the college level, the bench press served as an important test to display his raw strength. Banks hit 30 reps of 225 pounds, an impressive total for an offensive lineman. This number placed him among the top performers for offensive linemen, signaling his ability to match up physically against the strength of NFL defenders.
Moving on to the vertical jump, Banks showed off his explosiveness. At 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, it is rare to see an offensive lineman with the leaping ability that Banks possesses. His 30-inch vertical was a solid result, showcasing his power in short bursts, a critical trait for an offensive tackle who must get out of his stance quickly and engage defenders in both pass protection and the running game.
Agility: 3-Cone Drill and Shuttle
While strength is crucial for offensive linemen, agility is just as important. Kelvin Banks Jr.’s ability to move laterally and engage defenders in confined spaces is one of his standout traits. At the combine, he ran the 3-cone drill, a test of short-area quickness, in a respectable time of 7.4 seconds. This time highlighted Banks’ ability to change direction efficiently, a key skill when blocking speed rushers or reacting to stunts and twists from defensive lines.
The shuttle drill, another agility test, saw Banks post a time of 4.5 seconds, which is strong for a player of his size. The shuttle evaluates an athlete’s ability to quickly change direction and react to unexpected movements, a crucial aspect of an offensive tackle’s job when trying to protect the quarterback.
Pass Protection and Position-Specific Drills
The most telling moments of any combine for offensive linemen are the position-specific drills, where they perform actual blocking and footwork maneuvers. These drills give scouts a better sense of how a player moves on the field and whether their technique and instincts can translate to success in the NFL. In these drills, Banks looked as fluid as ever, executing his footwork, hand placement, and positioning with precision. His ability to set up quickly in pass protection and drive defenders off the ball in the running game remained a staple of his game. This combination of technique and raw power is exactly what NFL teams are looking for in a starting offensive tackle.
Impact on NFL Draft Rankings
Following his performance at the combine, Kelvin Banks Jr. solidified his status as one of the premier offensive tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft class. His bench press, 3-cone drill, and position-specific drills showcased the physical traits that make him such a highly coveted prospect. Many analysts had already ranked him among the top 10 players overall, and his combine performance only confirmed that Banks has the talent and athleticism to be a cornerstone of an NFL offensive line for years to come.
Draft Position Predictions: Given Banks’ performance, several mock drafts have placed him in the top 10 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, with some projecting him to go as high as the 4th or 5th overall pick. A team in need of a franchise-caliber left tackle would be wise to grab Banks, as he is seen as a plug-and-play player who could start immediately and anchor an offensive line for years to come.
While offensive tackle is not always the flashiest position in the draft, the importance of protecting the quarterback and establishing a powerful offensive line cannot be overstated. The success of high-profile quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts, is largely a product of having strong offensive lines, and teams in the NFL understand how critical it is to draft and develop talented linemen.
NFL Teams in the Market for an Offensive Tackle
Several NFL teams are poised to draft an offensive tackle early in the 2025 draft, and Kelvin Banks Jr. could be their top target. Here are a few teams that could be particularly interested in selecting Banks:
- Chicago Bears: After trading away Justin Fields’ top offensive weapons, the Bears will need to focus on protecting their quarterback. Banks would immediately help stabilize their offensive line and provide protection for Fields as he continues to develop.
- Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have struggled to find consistency along their offensive line in recent seasons, and Banks could be a perfect solution to help solidify that unit moving forward.
- Miami Dolphins: With Tua Tagovailoa’s health in question, Miami needs to ensure their offensive line is capable of keeping their quarterback upright. Banks’ ability to protect the blind side could be a massive boost for the Dolphins’ offense.
- Seattle Seahawks: Seattle has been building a young and exciting offensive group, but they need to improve their offensive line to ensure their quarterback, whoever it may be, has adequate protection. Banks could offer the stability and strength they need.
