Press release via Texas Athletics
Texas juniors Kelvin Banks Jr. (OL) and Trey Moore (EDGE) were selected to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Lombardi Award, the Harris County Houston Sports Authority announced Thursday. The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman, 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 it home 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 in and started 27 games for the Longhorns. Heading into the 2024 season, Banks Jr. has garnered preseason first-team All-SEC recognition and preseason first-team All-America nods by CBS Sports, ESPN and The Athletic. Additionally, Banks was named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Outland Trophy. It’s the second-straight year Banks has been tabbed to the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award.
The Humble, Texas, product is coming off a sensational 2023 campaign where he was named Second-Team All-America by the Associated Press, All-Big 12 First Team by the conference’s coaches, a Joe Moore Award semifinalist and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as Offensive Lineman of the Year. Playing in and starting all 14 games for the Longhorns at left tackle, Banks Jr. was part of an offensive line that blocked for Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist Quinn Ewers. Anchoring one of the best offensive lines in college football, Banks helped open holes 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- and 600-yard rusher. He helped Texas rack up 454 yards of total offense in the Longhorns’ victory at No. 3 Alabama on Sept. 9, 2023, marking the program’s first-ever win on the road against an AP top-three ranked program. In the Big 12 Championship game versus Oklahoma State, Banks Jr. and the offense totaled 662 yards of offense in the win – the seventh-most in program history.
Moore enters his first season on the 40 Acres after transferring to Texas from UTSA in spring 2024. Moore, a junior, was named the 2023 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and recognized on the AAC first-team. A three-time AAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2023, Moore posted 45 total tackles, including 30 solo stops, 17.5 tackles for a loss and a school-record 14 sacks – only 0.5 shy of the AAC single-season record – with one forced fumble, one interception and four passes defended. The San Antonio, Texas, product had 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble against UAB. He logged a season-high seven tackles with three sacks each against Texas State and East Carolina.
As a freshman in 2022, Moore hauled in Freshman All-America distinguishment from the Football Writers Association of America, The Athletic and College Football News in 2022. He was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Conference. Starting all 14 contests at outside backer, he broke the school single-season record for tackles for loss with 18. He tallied 59 total tackles, 30 solo stops, eight sacks, six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
