Vote: Who was the top offensive lineman in Texas high school football in 2023?
The 2023 Texas high school football season is in the rear view, and we're taking a look at the most impactful players across the Lone Star State last fall.
After unveiling our All-East Texas, All-West Texas, All-South Texas, All-North Texas, All-Southeast Texas and All-Central Texas teams and awards, we released our All-Texas high school football team, honoring the best of the best.
Now, we're taking a look at who rose above the rest at each position. After examining some of the best individual seasons at the quarterback, running back, wide receivers, defensive backs, linebacker and defensive line positions, we're moving to the offensive line.
Who was the top offensive lineman in Texas this past fall?
We want to hear from you.
Scroll down and reach up on 23 names to consider and cast your vote in the reader poll below. Voting ends on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. central time.
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TOP O-LINEMEN IN 2023
DeSoto's Byron Washington (76) stars down a Summer Creek DL in the UIL 6A Division II state championship.
Photo by Tommy Hays
This list is in alphabetical order.
Max Anderson, Frisco Reedy, sr.
He was ranked as the 40th recruit in the state by 247Sports. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound guard had more than 20 offers. He will head to the SEC, signing with Tennessee — bypassing a chance to play with his brother, Nate, at Oklahoma.
Devin Cage, Corpus Christi Miller, jr.
The Buccaneers offense benefited from having a dominant offensive line. Leading the charge was the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Cage. The junior lineman used a combination of size and speed to dominate defenders and earn District 14-5A DI Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.
Kash Courtney, Carthage, jr.
Courtney helped pave the way for a Bulldogs rushing attack that averaged 152.9 rushing yards and 30 points per game. He is the District 8-4A Division II Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year. The multi-sport athlete has a football offer from UTSA.
Daniel Cruz, North Richland Hills Richland, sr.
The center for the Royals, he was part of an offensive line that rolled up more than 5,600 yards of total offense. The Texas signee was ranked No. 9 nationally as an interior offensive lineman.
Ellis Davis, Prosper, sr.
The Texas Tech signee is 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds. The Red Raiders are getting the No. 15-ranked tackle in the country and a top-40 recruit in the state this year.
Jaden Dement, Gregory-Portland, sr.
Dement isn’t the biggest in the trenches, measuring just 6-foot-0 and 235-pounds. That hasn’t slowed him from being among the best in South Texas, serving as a key role in the Wildcats front five. Dement’s dominance helped him earn District 15-5A DII’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
Dyllan Drummond, Tyler Chapel Hill, sr.
A big reason for the success of the Class 4A Division I state runner-up’s offense, Drummond helped the Bulldogs rack up average 312.8 rushing yards per game with 2,700-plus-yard and 1,600-plus-yard rushers. Chapel Hill scored 41.3 points per game. Drummond is a UNLV commit.
Coen Echols, Katy, sr.
The four-star recruit is a top-15 interior offensive lineman based on 247Sports composite rankings. He was a late flip by LSU, getting him away from Texas A&M.
Blake Frazier, Vandegrift, sr.
The four-star Michigan Wolverine commit was instrumental in helping lead his Vipers to a district championship and helped the Vandegrift offense average 41 points per game.
Dawson Hall, Canyon West Plains, sr.
Hall helped the Wolves average 229 rushing yards and 240 passing yards per game. Teammate Jordi Hernandez rushed for nearly 2,000 yards with 22 touchdowns. Hall is the District 2-4A Division II Offensive Line Player of the Year. He has an offer from Division II Eastern New Mexico.
Holton Hendrix, Lubbock-Cooper, sr.
Hendrix helped pave the way for an offensive juggernaut that scored 31 more points in all 12 games this season, including a 48-31 loss to eventual Class 5A Division I state champion Aledo in the area round. Cooper finished 8-4 with a playoff win over El Paso Parkland. A First-Team All-2-5A DI tackle, Hendrix is a Texas Tech commit.
Preston Honeycutt, Hutto, sr.
Honeycutt was selected to the District 12-6A first team and had over 60 knockdowns on the offensive line this season. He is a versatile lineman able to play all five positions.
Blake Ivy, League City Clear Springs, sr.
A coaching change didn’t stop Ivy from keeping his commitment to the Aggies. He is the No. 9-ranked tackle in the country. He played in the Under Armour All-American game in early January.
Tyler Knape, Lake Travis, sr.
Knape was the anchor on the Cavaliers' offensive line and helped Lake Travis to a trip to the fourth round of the state playoffs. He is committed to Cal.
Quinten McCarty, Brownwood, sr.
Offensive lineman. Defensive lineman. District 2-4 Division I Most Valuable Player. That sums up the huge season by McCarty for the Lions. Brownwood finished 12-2 with postseason wins over San Elizario, Canyon Randall and Springtown before falling to Decatur in the regional finals. He is uncommitted.
Braydon Nelson, Kilgore, sr.
A massive all-state performer, Nelson had another big season to put the finishing touches on his prep career. He helped the Bulldogs finish 12-2 with playoff wins over Livingston, Bay City and Needville. Nelson is uncommitted, but he has an offer from Prairie View A&M.
Dramodd Odoms, Lamar Houston, jr.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle has drawn plenty of inters from SEC and Big 12 schools with 12 offers so far. The Texans’ offense had more than 5,000 yards this fall.
Aaden Sanchez, PSJA North, sr.
Sanchez was called to play multiple positions on the Raiders front this year due to injuries among the group. The versatile senior delivered, shining wherever he lined up. Sanchez’s plug-and-play ability in the trenches earned him a first-team District 15-5A DI selection.
Logan Schram, Boerne, jr.
Schram is the leader on an offensive line nicknamed ‘The Great Wall of Boerne.’ He is a three-year starter on varsity, and has yet to allow a sack in those three years. The junior holds multiple FBS offers and helped the Hounds rush for 2,369 yards this season.
Joe Derek Vecchio, PSJA North, sr.
PSJA North’s offensive line is among the most dominant in South Texas, featuring several big bodies in the trenches. The heart-and-soul of that line was UTRGV commit Joe Derek Vecchio. The District 15-5A DI Offensive Lineman of the Year helped the Raiders average 338.2 yards per game on the ground this year.
Zane Waggoner, Albany, sr.
With the help of Waggoner and his linemates, SBLive.com West Texas Region Offensive MVP Adam Hill eclipsed 2,000 yards and scored 42 touchdowns. Albany went 16-0 and won its second straight Class 2A Division II state title. Waggoner was named Defensive MVP of the championship game with nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. He is uncommitted.
Bennett Warren, Fort Bend Christian Academy, sr.
Standing 6-foot-7 and being 330 pounds, the tackle caught the eyes of coaches early as a three-year starter. He had more than 30 offers to play at the next level. Warren, the No. 10-ranked tackle this year, signed with Tennessee.
Byron Washington, DeSoto, jr.
If you haven’t seen the photo of the guard blocking a Summer Creek defender you are missing out on how massive he is. They say a photo is worth 1,000 words, so my work here is done.
Jacoby Watts, Longview, sr.
Watts helped the Lobos field a potent running attack with a 1,400-plus-yard leading rusher and a total of 46 rushing touchdowns. Longview finished 11-2 with postseason victories over New Caney Porter and Frisco Reedy. Watts, an All-District 7-5A Division I First-Team pick, is uncommitted.
-- SBLive Texas staff.
Editor’s Note: Our reader poll features are intended to be fun and generate productive discussion. We do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
