By Joshua Koch
Public Communications
Humble ISD graduate Kelvin Banks Jr. was named the 51st Lombardi Award winner on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, by the Rotary Club of Houston.
The Lombardi award, established by the Rotary Club of Houston in 1970, is named after Coach Vince Lombardi. The Lombardi Award honors the Outstanding College Football Lineman, on offense or defense, who displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi Championed throughout his life.
Past recipients include Will Anderson Jr (Houston Texan DE, 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year), Aidan Hurchoinson (Detroit Lion DE), Aaron Donald (Super Bowl LVI Champion), Julius Peppers (Pro Football Hall of Fame), Orlando Pace (College & Pro Football Hall of Fame), Warren Sapp (Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Randy White (College & Pro Football Hall of Fame).
“Amazing accomplishment for a phenomenal young man and his family,” Summer Creek head football coach Kenny Harrison said of Banks, who he coached from 2018-2021.
Banks attended Humble ISD’s Lakeland Elementary, Ross Sterling Middle School and graduated from Summer Creek High School in 2022. He has an older brother and his parents Kelvin Sr. and Monica Banks still live in the area.
As a Bulldog, Banks helped lead the program to its first-ever Regional Finals appearance in 2021. Banks was a five-star offensive lineman prospect coming out of high school – ranked 29th overall in the nation and seventh overall in Texas by 247Sports. Banks signed with the University of Texas on December 15, 2021.
“This award really embodies what I want to be in life,” Banks said during his acceptance speech. “I want to be disciplined, I want to be able to put smiles on people’s faces without wanting something in return from them. Just being a leader on and off the field. I’m just happy to be a part of this history.”
Banks is the first offensive lineman from the University of Texas to win the prestigious award and the fourth overall. He is the first Texas Longhorn to hoist the trophy since Brian Orakpo won the 39th Lombardi Award in 2008. Orakpo was also the last Houston-native (Lamar High School) to win the award prior to Banks. Kenneth Sims (1981) and Tony Degrate (1984) were the other two Texas Longhorns to have won this award.
At the University of Texas, Banks has played in and started 37 games for the Longhorns. In his three seasons at Texas, he has allowed just three sacks. He was a 2024 Joe Moore Award Semifinalist and named 2024 preseason First-Team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sporting News and The Athletic.
Banks is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.