Many Dallas Cowboys fans have started to adopt a specific mindset when it comes to the upcoming draft: avoid offensive or defensive linemen in the first round. This attitude stems from recent disappointments—like the struggles of an offensive tackle and the lack of progress from a defensive tackle—causing a mix of recent memory bias and anxiety over past draft decisions. However, the Cowboys still face two major issues that need urgent addressing: the left tackle position and right guard, both crucial for protecting their highly paid quarterback.
“Those moments are definitely special to me. I don’t take them for granted” – @Kelvinbanksjr12 🫶 pic.twitter.com/KVVcg5Kn2I
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 19, 2024
Fortunately, there’s a college prospect who could solve both problems due to his versatility. This player has already caught the attention of the Cowboys’ front office. What sets him apart isn’t just his talent, but how he’s been tested at the highest level and came through impressively.
As a true freshman in college, he went up against four future first-round NFL draft picks: one who went third overall, another at seventh, one at fifteenth, and another at thirty-first. Despite the elite competition, he didn’t give up a single sack and allowed only one quarterback pressure in total. For a freshman, that kind of performance speaks not just to physical ability, but to mental toughness and elite preparation.
Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr Since 2023:
🤘 1,043 Pass Block Snaps
🤘 2 Sacks Allowed
🤘 3 QB Hits Allowed
🤘 90.7 Pass Block Grade@TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/mpGGhc0S0d— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 18, 2025
What makes his story even more remarkable is what he endured off the field during that same season. He carried the emotional burden of his mother’s severe health crisis. After one game, she collapsed and slipped into a coma. Doctors believed her condition was terminal and moved her into hospice care. Eventually, it was discovered that her real issue was a treatable gallbladder condition—a diagnosis that came just in time. The emotional weight of this ordeal could have overwhelmed most young players, but this athlete remained focused and resilient, continuing to perform at a high level.
Later, his head coach at SEC Media Days publicly praised him—despite being surrounded by other talented teammates and coming off a college playoff run that saw many players head to the NFL. The coach said that if he could have 85 players just like him, he would. He emphasized the young man’s work ethic, character, loyalty to the team, and the example he sets.
This prospect isn’t just one of the top offensive linemen in his draft class—possibly the best—he also exemplifies everything the Cowboys are trying to build within their culture. He offers more than just skill; he brings leadership, mental strength, and professionalism. He’s the kind of player who could anchor Dallas’s offensive line while also embodying the values the team is working hard to establish under its current leadership.