District 4-6A Offensive Line Rankings After Week 1: Keller’s Thomas Drahms Looks Like a Sleeper to Watch

Offensive line is one of the hardest positions to evaluate from a stat sheet.

There are no rushing totals attached to an individual offensive lineman. There are no tackles, sacks or interceptions. Evaluating the position requires watching the film and paying attention to the details that often determine whether an offense succeeds.

For our first District 4-6A offensive line rankings of the season, DUB Sports Media evaluated Week 1 film with an emphasis on pass protection, run blocking, footwork, balance, hand placement, ability to finish blocks, movement in space and overall consistency.

Recruiting attention and offers can provide additional context, but they do not determine these rankings.

The tape does.

And after going through the district, one player separated himself at the top.

1. Thomas Drahms — Keller

OT | #66 | Keller

Thomas Drahms was the most impressive offensive lineman I evaluated in District 4-6A through Week 1.

What immediately stood out was how easy high school football looked for him.

In pass protection, Drahms consistently played under control. He wasn’t lunging or reaching for defenders. His feet stayed underneath him, his hands were well placed, and he repeatedly handled rushers without putting himself in bad positions.

But what really separated him was his athleticism.

When Drahms climbed to the second level, there were snaps where he looked more athletic in space than the linebackers he was being asked to block. He covers ground quickly, has legitimate lateral movement and shows impressive quick-twitch ability for an offensive lineman.

And when Keller pulled him?

He was a problem.

Drahms gets around quickly, runs through his hips and arrives with bad intentions. He isn’t looking to simply get in somebody’s way. He is looking to finish the block.

Whether Keller ran behind him or asked him to protect the quarterback, he consistently looked polished.

Drahms looks like a legitimate sleeper prospect, and he is a player college programs should be paying attention to.

2. Ty McMurry — Southlake Carroll

OL | #71 | Southlake Carroll

Ty McMurry earns the No. 2 spot because of how consistently polished he looked in both phases.

McMurry does an excellent job getting his hands into position and then continuing to drive his feet through contact. Instead of reaching and allowing defenders to work away from him, he stays connected and uses his lower body to generate movement.

His pass protection was equally impressive.

He looked composed, technically sound and rarely appeared uncomfortable against the rush. His base remained underneath him, and he consistently put himself in position to control the defender rather than react desperately after losing leverage.

There may be more naturally athletic linemen in the district, but McMurry’s combination of technique, strength and consistency makes him one of the most complete.

Through Week 1, he’s my No. 2 offensive lineman in District 4-6A.

3. Cody Bequette — Byron Nelson

C | #71 | Byron Nelson

Cody Bequette was one of the strongest interior offensive linemen I evaluated, and his Week 1 performance earned him the No. 3 spot.

His pass protection immediately caught my attention.

Bequette plays with an excellent base and does a great job keeping his feet active rather than lunging at defenders. He stays balanced, keeps his hands inside and consistently gives himself the ability to react to movement in front of him.

I would grade his Week 1 pass protection extremely highly.

He was just as impressive in the running game.

Bequette plays with an edge. He uses his body well, runs his feet through contact and actively looks to finish blocks. On double teams, he showed a good understanding of how to attack the defender’s hip and generate movement inside.

That combination is important.

I don’t rank an offensive lineman highly simply because he’s nasty in the run game or because he can sit back and pass protect. To be considered one of the best linemen in the district, I want to see both.

Bequette showed both.

He’s a technically sound center with good feet, physicality and the ability to control the middle of the offensive line, which puts him firmly inside the top three after Week 1.

4. Tristan Dare — Southlake Carroll

OL | #72 | Southlake Carroll

Tristan Dare might be one of the more interesting sleepers within Southlake Carroll’s offensive line itself.

What stood out most was his ability to operate in tight spaces.

Dare looked quick inside and particularly comfortable in pass protection. Interior offensive line play can become chaotic quickly, but he showed the ability to stay balanced and work efficiently without unnecessarily reaching for defenders.

He also generated movement in the running game.

Southlake Carroll has multiple offensive linemen worthy of consideration, which can make an individual player easier to overlook, but Dare’s Week 1 film deserves recognition.

He’s technically sound, moves well and gives Carroll another dependable presence up front.

5. Luke Wilson — Southlake Carroll

OL | #74 | Southlake Carroll

Luke Wilson gives Southlake Carroll another athletic presence along its offensive front.

Wilson showed plenty of positive traits on Week 1 film, particularly with his movement ability. He can cover ground and has the athletic tools you want from an offensive lineman.

The difference between Wilson and the Carroll linemen ranked ahead of him came down primarily to polish.

There were areas where McMurry looked more consistent with his hand placement and ability to continue driving his feet through the defender. Wilson has the athletic ability, but there is another level available as the technical side becomes more consistent.

That’s not necessarily a negative.

The physical tools are clearly there, and his athleticism gives him considerable upside as the season progresses.

6. Johnny Wray — Eaton

OT | #70 | Eaton

Johnny Wray rounds out the first edition of the rankings after a strong showing in the running game.

When Eaton ran behind Wray, good things consistently happened.

His biggest strength was his ability to cut off angles and continue driving his feet once he established contact.

That’s something I specifically look for when evaluating high school offensive linemen.

Too many linemen reach when a defender begins moving across their face. Wray does a good job staying connected with his feet instead. Once he gets his body into position, his strength becomes obvious.

He puts his weight behind the block and can be extremely difficult for defenders to escape once he establishes control.

There are areas in pass protection where he can continue improving, particularly with his anchor, but the strength is already there. When he gets his hands on a pass rusher and establishes himself, he’s difficult to work around.

His impact in the running game was enough to earn him the No. 6 spot after Week 1.

But these rankings aren’t permanent.

There is a lot of football left to play, and we’ll continue evaluating the district as more film becomes available.