AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns appear to be looking to welcome back their All-American left tackle.
Speaking Monday ahead of the team’s College Football Playoff first-round game, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Kelvin Banks Jr. will play against Clemson on Saturday afternoon at DKR Memorial Stadium (3 p.m. CT, TNT). He suggested that he could compete.
“He was good last week. I’m really, really happy for him,” Sarkisian said. “Maybe I was holding him back more, but I wanted him to feel really good when he came back this week.”
About an hour after Sarkisian spoke to the media, Banks Jr. appeared at Belmont Hall and did the same thing. He did it without an ankle brace and without a noticeable limp.
“My ankle feels much better,” Banks Jr. said. “I have worked through the rehabilitation process and I am confident in where I am in my rehabilitation process.
“I’m confident that I’ll be able to play on Saturday.”
Banks remained behind the line of scrimmage at the end of Quinn Ewers’ 26-yard run with 6:07 left in the first quarter of a Nov. 30 victory over Texas A&M. It appears his lower leg was wrapped up by Aggies defensive lineman Rylan Kennedy.
He left the field on his own under the care of his trainers and went straight to the casualty tent as the drive continued. Banks retired to the locker room with 2:30 left in the first quarter.
Banks did not appear on the Texas sideline until the second half, when he was wearing sweats and walking boots. Sarkisian later suggested that Banks suffered an ankle injury.
The Lombardi Trophy and Outland Trophy winner made an in-game call in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia on Dec. 7, but was ultimately sidelined.
With Banks out for most of the last two games, redshirt freshman Trevor Goosbee has played 151 snaps at left tackle over the past two games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Goosby wasn’t credited with allowing a sack or QB hit against Ewers during that span, but he allowed 14 pressures against Georgia and sacked Ewers six times in the 22-19 SEC title game win. did.
Banks, a true junior, is projected to be a top-two offensive lineman and a top-10 pick this NFL Draft cycle.
