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Fact or Fiction: Kelvin Banks will end up with a program in Texas

Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney and national recruiting analysts Sam Spiegelman and Adam Friedman tackle topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.

MORE FACT OR FICTION: Alabama LB Will Anderson should be a Heisman finalist | USC is trending for five-star Domani Jackson

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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK

Saturday: Who should be awarded fifth star?

Sunday: Who should be No. 1?

Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars

Tuesday: New Rivals250 revealed | Gorney's thoughts | Who will we regret dropping? | 10 biggest movers

Wednesday: Offensive position rankings | Recruiting updates on all uncommitted offensive players in Rivals250 | Five schools that received boost from new rankings | QB Rankings Spotlight | RB Rankings Spotlight | WR/TE Rankings Spotlight | OL Rankings Spotlight

Thursday: Defensive position rankings | Recruiting updates on all uncommitted defensive players in Rivals250 | DL Rankings Spotlight | LB Rankings Spotlight | DB Rankings Spotlight

Friday: State rankings

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Five-star OL Kelvin Banks will end up in-state following his decommitment from Oregon.

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Kelvin Banks
Kelvin Banks

Gorney’s take: FICTION. It’s certainly a strong possibility, and Texas is favored ahead of Texas A&M, but I could also see Banks heading out of state again as he’s shown that interest before with his Oregon commitment. From what I can tell, new Miami coach Mario Cristobal (who came from Oregon) is already making a run at Banks and there seems to be some interest. Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma State (where Banks was once committed) and others are also in the running now. If Banks ends up staying in-state it wouldn’t be a shocker. But I could see him leaving, too.

Spiegelman’s take: FACT. Banks already began doing his homework in November with the coaching carousel heating up and Cristobal a popular name popping up for the Miami job. Cristobal landed one of the biggest shocks of the 2022 cycle when Banks, the nation's top OT, pledged out of state to the Ducks over Texas A&M and Texas. Both in-state schools covet the five-star lineman and have refused to take their feet off the gas. As National Signing Day approaches, expect Banks to pick either the Aggies or Horns. My early FutureCast is on Texas A&M, but there's optimism in Austin as well.

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The offensive line rankings could see the most upheaval before the final 2022 rankings release following the all-star games.

Elijah Pritchett
Elijah Pritchett (Rivals.com)

Gorney’s take: FACT. There is going to be a tremendous amount of intrigue when it comes to the offensive tackles because I don’t think those rankings are set in stone at all. Being tested by the best defensive ends in the country, in pads, is going to be really important to see. From what I’ve seen through their senior seasons, right now Alabama commit Elijah Pritchett is too low and Josh Conerly might be as well. We will definitely have an open mind and watch those positions closely – and it’s not just tackle. There could be a debate about who is the top offensive guard as well (and whether Earnest Greene is a guard or tackle) when we see him and Devon Campbell, too.

Friedman’s take: FACT. The all-star games will reveal a lot about this position group. Many of the top-ranked offensive tackles haven't been tested like they will be later this month, and it will be great to be able to compare these players while they're on the same field. Kam Dewberry just lost his fifth star in this rankings update, and I'd expect at least one more to lose theirs. At the same time, at least two could be elevated to five-star status. A few of the offensive tackles I'll be keeping a close eye on during the all-star games are five-stars Kelvin Banks, Julian Armella and Zach Rice, and four-star Will Campbell. I have high expectations for Elijah Pritchett, Kiyaunta Goodwin, Collin Sadler and Ty Chan.

NEW 2022 POSITION RANKINGS: Safety | Cornerback | Strongside Defensive End | Weakside Defensive End | Defensive Tackle | Offensive Tackle | Offensive Guard | Center | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Running back | All-purpose back | Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB

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