We’ve seen some encouraging signs early at New Orleans Saints training camp, but perhaps none more impressive (and more welcome) than the debut of first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. He’s taken the majority of his snaps at left tackle and figures to be the Week 1 starter at that spot. And the very early returns suggest he’s making good on the potential of the ninth overall draft pick.
The rookie lineman wasted no time making his presence felt on the first day of padded practices, bringing a level of physicality and nastiness that stood out right away. In a clip shared by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the offensive line is seen working through one-on-one pass protection reps. When Banks Jr. got his chance, he for sure made it count — stonewalling veteran edge rusher Chris Rumph (No. 98) and putting him into the dirt with a dominating finish and earning some praise from his coach. That’s exactly what you want to see from a young player shouldering high expectations.
This kind of performance is highly promising from your projected starting left tackle. Seeing Banks Jr. embrace the physicality of the NFL and get off to a fast start is an encouraging sign for the rookie. For comparison, we’ve seen former first-round pick Trevor Penning — despite his impressive physical tools — struggle to adjust over the past few years. That contrast only makes Banks’ early impact all the more impressive.
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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints training camp: Kelvin Banks Jr. sets the tone, wows coaches