Press release via Texas Athletics
Texas juniors Kelvin Banks Jr. (OL) and Trey Moore (EDGE) have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Lombardi Award, the Harris County Houston Sports Authority announced Thursday. The Lombardi Award is given annually to the offensive or defensive lineman in college football who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi.
Three Longhorns have won the Lombardi Award, most recently Brian Orakpo in 2008. Tony Degrate won the award in 1984, while Kenneth Sims took home it in 1981. Nine other Longhorns have been finalists for the award, including Justin Blalock (2006), Rodrique Wright (2005), Derrick Johnson (2004), Cory Redding (2002), Doug Dawson (1983), Steve McMichael (1979), Brad Shearer (1977), Bill Wyman (1973) and Jerry Sisemore (1972).
Banks Jr. is a third-year offensive lineman who has played and started 27 games for the Longhorns. Ahead of the 2024 season, Banks Jr. has earned All-SEC First Team and All-America First Team honors from CBS Sports, ESPN and The Athletic. Additionally, Banks was named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Outland Trophy. It is the second consecutive year that Banks has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award.
The Humble, Texas, product is coming off a sensational 2023 season that saw him named Second-Team All-America by the Associated Press, All-Big 12 First Team by the conference’s coaches, a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award and an honorable mention All-Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year selection. Banks Jr. played in all 14 games for the Longhorns at left tackle and was part of an offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist Quinn Ewers. As the anchor of one of the best offensive lines in college football, Banks helped open gaps for running backs Brooks (1,158 yards), CJ Baxter (659 yards) and Jaydon Blue (398 yards). He blocked for the fifth running back duo in UT history with a 1,000-yard and 600-yard rusher. He helped Texas total 454 yards of offense in the Longhorns’ win over No. 3 Alabama on Sept. 9, 2023, which marked the team’s first road win against an AP top-three ranked team. In the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma State, Banks Jr. and the offense totaled 662 yards of offense – the seventh-most in team history.
Moore will begin his first season on the 40 acres after transferring to Texas from UTSA in the spring of 2024. Moore, a junior, was named the 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was named to the AAC first team. A three-time AAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2023, Moore recorded 45 total tackles, including 30 solo stops, 17.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 14 sacks – just 0.5 shy of the AAC season record – with a forced fumble, an interception and four passes defensed. The San Antonio, Texas, product had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble against UAB. Against Texas State and East Carolina, he recorded a season-high seven tackles with three sacks each.
As a freshman in 2022, Moore earned Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America, The Athletic and College Football News. He was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Conference. He started all 14 games at outside backer and broke the school record for tackles for loss in a season with 18. He recorded 59 total tackles, 30 solo stops, eight sacks, six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
