Texas Longhorns' Kelvin Banks Jr. Already 'At Home' With New Orleans Saints

"It’s very gratifying, just because I could have went anywhere, but the Saints chose me, and it’s basically right down the street, so I get to see my family a bunch and they get to come to all the home games whenever they want to really," Banks told reporters Thursday night. "It’s definitely a good feeling."

Additionally, Banks is familiar with Caesars Superdome, the Saints' home venue. He and the Longhorns faced off against the Washington Huskies there in the College Football Playoff semfinals at the Sugar Bowl back in 2023. Though they lost that game, it was an experience the star lineman won't forget any time soon.

"I haven’t been to New Orleans a whole lot, but I have a lot of family from Louisiana, and my best friend is from that area too, so I feel like it’s kind of an at-home situation for me," Banks said. "I don’t think I’ll feel out of place at all coming to the city of New Orleans and feeling comfortable.

"I remember going into that stadium (in the Sugar Bowl) and just seeing how electrifying it was, even though it wasn’t the Saints, it was our team, but just seeing how electrifying it was and how much energy was coming out of that stadium. I know it will be a good experience once I put that Saints helmet on."

As a top-10 pick, Banks has quite a bit of pressure on him to succeed. By all accounts, though, it seems like he's entering a nice situation, at least for him.