NFL draft declarations beginning for Texas Longhorns with Banks, Blue, Conner
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three key players for the Texas Longhorns offense declared for the NFL draft on Sunday, and more are expected to in the coming days.
Kelvin Banks Jr., Jaydon Blue and Hayden Conner all said via social media Sunday they are foregoing their remaining college eligibility and entering the professional football ranks.
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ESPN ranks Banks as the No. 2 offensive tackleand No. 14 overall draft prospect after another All-American season with Texas. Banks won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, helping the Longhorns get to the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second consecutive year. Banks started as a true freshman with 42 career starts for the Longhorns in three seasons.
“I want to thank Coach Sark and Coach Flood for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dreams of playing on the biggest stage in college football,” Banks said in an Instagram post. “To my teammates, thank you for pushing me to be my best every day. I wouldn’t be the player or person I am today without each of you.”
247Sports rated Banks as a 5-star recruitcoming out of Humble Summer Creek High School in the 2022 recruiting class. He was the No. 30 overall recruit in the nation, No. 3 nationally at offensive tackle and No. 7 in Texas. He’s projected to be the first-round draft pick in April’s NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“I will always bleed burnt orange and cherish the memories I’ve made here,” Banks said. “Thank you, Longhorn Nation, for everything. I look forward to representing Texas proudly in the next chapter of my journey. Hook ’em.”
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Conner played left tackle alongside Banks with 43 starts in 51 games in four seasons. ESPN ranks him as the No. 5 offensive guard prospect in the 2025 draft. Conner and Banks helped the Longhorns’ offensive line become a finalist for the 2024 Joe Moore Award which honors the best offensive line in the country.
He said in a post on X that “the past four years have been the best of my life.” 247Sports rated Conner as a 3-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class out of Katy Taylor High School.
