Texas Longhorns left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is optimistic about his ankle’s condition ahead of the College Football Playoff game against Clemson on Saturday.
Banks suffered an ankle injury during the first quarter of Texas’ 17-7 win over Texas A&M on November 30, 2024. He was clipped on the left ankle by a Texas A&M pass rusher while blocking for quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Despite the injury, Banks expressed confidence in his ability to play on Saturday. “The ankle is feeling a whole lot better. I’ve been attacking the rehab process, so I’m feeling confident in my ankle and where I’m at in my process,” he told reporters on Monday.
Banks, the recent Outland Trophy winner, also mentioned that he feels confident he’ll be able to play on Saturday. This is a positive development for the Texas Longhorns, as Banks is a crucial player on their offense.
It’s worth noting that Banks had attempted to go through warmups for the SEC Championship against Georgia but ultimately ceded his spot to redshirt freshman Trevor Goosby. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian stated that he “held him back” from fighting through the injury.
Banks explained that he didn’t feel it was the right time to try to play in the game, given the pain and ankle condition. However, with the ankle feeling better and his confidence boosted, Banks is ready to take on Clemson on Saturday.
The matchup against Clemson promises to be an exciting one, and with Banks’ confidence in his ankle, the Texas Longhorns’ offense is likely to receive a significant boost.
