Texas coach Steve Sarkisian reacts to Saints drafting Kelvin Banks Jr.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian reacts to Saints drafting Kelvin Banks Jr.
You won't find many people who think more highly of Kelvin Banks Jr. than his head coach Steve Sarkisian. The Texas Longhorns coach spoke with Saints media after the team picked his left tackle at No. 9 overall in the 2025 NFL draft, and he gave the rookie a glowing review.
"I think Kelvin's your perfect Longhorn," Sarkisian began. "I've said this all along, I would tell any player coming into our program, if you want to be great, be like Kelvin Banks. His demeanor, his work ethic, his drive, his attention to detail, his ability to remain consistent in his approach on and off the field, it all shows in his play."
Sarkisian spun the clock back to Banks' freshman year for an example of what he brings to the table. He pointed to a 2022 game with the Alabama Crimson Tide as the lineman's first big test, which he passed with flying colors.
"He's a high-level player who obviously has all the measurables that the NFL is looking for in a great left tackle, and he started there for us from the day he arrived as a freshman. In just his second career start, he had to block Will Anderson and Dallas Turner as a true freshman and didn't flinch," Sarkisian added. Pro Football Focus charting found he allowed just one pressure, a non-contact hurry, on 45 snaps in pass protection. His 74 total reps in that game were the second-most of his freshman year. And he was not penalized. Anderson was drafted third overall in 2023 while Turner was picked 17th a year later.
Sarkisian finished by complimenting Banks' reliability and work ethic: "You can absolutely count on him. He was there every day and showed up with a constant level of consistency -- who he was some of the time was who he was all of the time. When you can couple that with the skill set, the measurables and knowing that he's still only played three years of college football, he is an absolute no-brainer of a first-round pick. He's accomplished so much, but his best days are still ahead of him and New Orleans is so fortunate to have him."
None of this praise is new, by the way. Sarkisian dismissed criticism on Banks' falling draft stock just a few days ago. He's been beating the drum for his former player all spring and he's clearly excited to see Banks turning pro. We're guessing he'll be keeping close tabs on where Banks' career goes from here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- New York Times
Women's College World Series championship: Texas beats Texas Tech for program's first national title
In their eighth trip to the WCWS, the Longhorns finally win a national championship, beating the Red Raiders Imagn Images Texas has won the college softball national title. After finishing as the national runners-up two times in the previous three years, the Longhorns have their first title with a 10-4 win over Texas Tech at the Women's College World Series. It came in Texas' eighth trip to the WCWS. It's also Texas coach Mike White's first title as the Longhorns scored five runs in the first inning and led the rest of the way. A three-run home run by Leighann Goode and a grand slam by Mia Scott sparked the Texas offense, and Teagan Kavan was brilliant in the circle. GO FURTHER Texas thumps Texas Tech for first Women's College World Series championship in program history Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms All right, all right, all right. FINALLY! Mike White gets his Gatorade bath!!! He said it's a "surreal" moment, and I can't even imagine. What a long road to finally get to the top and what an impact he has had on this sport. What an insanely incredible career for Mia Scott. She provided firepower on both sides of the ball her entire career and showed up on the biggest state here in OKC. If there were co-MOPs, she would have joined Teagan Kavan. Your WCWS MVP: Teagan Kavan. Her 31-2/3 innings without an earned run is a tournament record, and she has been invaluable to this team from the moment she stepped into the circle with the Longhorns. So, so awesome to see, all with her grandma Miney watching over her. The Longhorns had a bit of a roller-coaster year, especially in the last month of the season. Even in the Super Regionals, Clemson had this Texas team on the ropes until the very last second. This has been utter grit from the Longhorns all postseason, and the moment is finally theirs. That's a huge win for Texas, obviously — and a major one for Longhorns ace Tegan Kavan, too. With the win Friday, Kavan passed Cat Osterman for most wins (six) at the WCWS in Texas softball history. Osterman is widely considered one of the best players in the history of college softball to never win a national championship. Given that the righty is just a sophomore, it's likely she'll be able to pad that record the next couple of years. IT'S OVER! TEXAS HAS FINALLY DONE IT! The first-ever championship in program history for the Longhorns, and a long-awaited title for legendary coach Mike White. What an all-around performance from the Longhorns tonight, and they've finally overcome the demons that have haunted them in this WCWS for the last few years. Any chance we could get Judge Wilken to rule on how dumb the obstruction rule (and endless reviews) are? It's only 7:20 on the West Coast, I'm sure she's still awake It was definitely a risky move by Mihyia Davis to go on a ball that was in short left field, right in front of Katie Stewart. And while the rule is that the fielder has to allow a lane for the runner to get to the base, Mia Scott already had the ball in her glove by the time Davis got to the bag, so she can do whatever she wants at that point. This is a big call if this obstruction rule stands. It doesn't stand. It wouldn't be a WCWS championship game without an obstruction call. This is the wackiest WCWS ever, and you cannot convince me otherwise! Oh my, Katie Stewart just went ALL OUT for that one against the wall. She went full speed into the left-field wall in foul territory to take in that ball off the bat of Alexa Langeliers, and she just bounced off of that thing like it was nothing. She has made some great plays this entire tournament but has kind of flown under the radar. Now that we're in the seventh, the run rule does not matter: These are the last licks for Texas Tech against Teagan Kavan and Texas, as we have another pinch hitter for the Red Raiders. One interesting thing I've noticed is that some of these Texas Tech hitters are going with split grips on their bats, especially the lefties. It helps to have a little more bat control and shortens up your swing, which helps against a pitcher with the speed and movement of Kavan. T7 - Texas 10, Texas Tech 3 The Red Raiders will need a HUGE rally to keep this one going. Here we go. If you didn't think Kayden Henry was fast, she just stretched a misplayed ball by shortstop Hailey Toney that dribbled into the outfield into a double, with ease. Keep in mind, with the Longhorns coming up to the plate, they need just one run to end this thing and claim the national championship. They have newly anointed program single-season hits leader Ashton Maloney coming to the plate to get things going. B6 - Texas 10, Texas Tech 3 Teagan Kavan settles things back down and still hasn't allowed an earned run in this WCWS. Texas is three outs away from a title and can avoid the top of the seventh with a run here in the bottom of the sixth to walk it off.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Dallas hosts Minnesota, looks to break home skid
Minnesota Lynx (8-0, 7-0 Western Conference) at Dallas Wings (1-8, 0-5 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Dallas Wings plays Minnesota Lynx looking to stop its four-game home slide. Dallas finished 7-13 at home and 6-14 in Western Conference play during the 2024-25 season. The Wings averaged 84.2 points per game last season, 14.7 on free throws and 18.9 from deep. Minnesota went 30-10 overall last season while going 14-6 in Western Conference games. The Lynx averaged 23.0 assists per game on 30.1 made field goals last season. INJURIES: Wings: Paige Bueckers: out (concussion). Lynx: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Dallas hosts Minnesota, looks to break home skid
Minnesota Lynx (8-0, 7-0 Western Conference) at Dallas Wings (1-8, 0-5 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Dallas Wings plays Minnesota Lynx looking to stop its four-game home slide. Advertisement Dallas finished 7-13 at home and 6-14 in Western Conference play during the 2024-25 season. The Wings averaged 84.2 points per game last season, 14.7 on free throws and 18.9 from deep. Minnesota went 30-10 overall last season while going 14-6 in Western Conference games. The Lynx averaged 23.0 assists per game on 30.1 made field goals last season. INJURIES: Wings: Paige Bueckers: out (concussion). Lynx: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
