First line of attack: Area's best at run blocking, pass protection
And this season could be more of the same with several top linemen returning to push around opponents.
Leading the group is 6-foot-4, 300-pound Sam Houston High School junior Albert Simien.
He earned 3-5A all-district first team and American Press All-Southwest Louisiana Big School honors as a sophomore for a Broncos offense that averaged 35.1 points and 402.7 yards per game. He has bulked up since last season, gaining 25 pounds.
'He had an unbelievable offseason,' Sam Houston head coach Chad Davis said. 'He has gotten strong as an ox. He played at 275 pounds last year and is 300 now. He has gotten more technical in his run game and pass protection. His wingspan is unbelievable.'
Other key offensive linemen to watch include Hadley Hardesty, Keilynn Tanner, Kohl Fulton, Myles Joseph, Tylon Jackson and Marques Brothers.
Albert Simien
Davis said Simien has offers from LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama, Nebraska, Florida and Michigan, as well as several other Division I schools. He is rated as a four-star prospect by 247sports.com.
'It is his motor and physicality,' Davis said. 'He is already big and strong, but his smartness for the game is there. Once he does his job, he is looking for more jobs. That is what everyone likes about him. Once he takes care of his job as a lineman, he is looking for work down the field.
'As long as he shows up every day and sets the tone, everyone follows him. When you have the spotlight on you like that, there is no time to take off. He has done a great job.'
Davis said Simien will play on both sides of the ball, but he is familiar with the defensive side. He earned second-team all-district honors as a freshman defensive lineman in 2023.
Hadley Hardesty
Hardesty, a 6-6, 265-pound senior, looks to protect 2,000-yard passer Brody Anderson for a third consecutive season. Westlake averaged nearly 400 yards a game in their run to the regional round last year. The Rams will be strong up front again with four returning linemen.
The two-sport star helped lead the Rams to the Non-select Division III baseball semifinals in May as part of their pitching rotation.
Keilynn Tanner
Tanner is set to start on the line for the Gators for a fourth consecutive season and is one of 25 seniors looking to lead the team to their first playoff win since 2014.
'He is going to be a force to be reckoned with,' LaGrange head coach Idaibi Ogbanga said. 'Tanner is very serious.
'He got a lot stronger in the offseason. He is just one of those kids that you are blessed to have. He is aggressive and strong as an ox. He moves well. He moves like he is 250 pounds. He has some good footwork.'
Kohl Fulton
Fulton, a 6-3, 290-pound senior, will carry a heavy load as Iowa's lone returning offensive lineman and keep the program's recent success rolling. In the last three seasons, Iowa has advanced to the semifinals twice and the quarterfinals, compiling a 32-8 record. The three-year starter will be charged with protecting new starting quarterback, Lawston Broussard.
Myles Joseph
At 6-4, 320 pounds, Joseph can clear a big path for Lake Charles College Prep's high-powered offense that averaged more than 35 points a game last season. He has offers from Central Arkansas, Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-San Antonio.
After an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Week 1 against Westgate sidelined him for the rest of the season, Joseph looks to help anchor the line from left tackle that boasts four returning starters.
'He can play every position on the offensive line, and he is very smart,' LCCP head coach Erick Franklin Sr. said.
Tylon Jackson
Jackson is a two-way all-district first-team lineman at 5-11 and 265 pounds and is picking up the skills needed to handle Oakdale's move towards a spread offense quickly. The senior is one of four returning starters on the offensive line for the Warriors as they try to bounce back from a 3-8 season.
'He is just a hard-nosed kid that embraces being a lineman,' Oakdale head coach Kevin Bertrand said. 'He loves his job and is a hard worker. He is a leader.'
Marques Brothers
Brothers, a 6-3, 255-pound senior, will be the leader on Grand Lake's inexperienced offensive line as the lone returning full-time starter. He earned District 4-1A first-team honors last year.
'He is as talented as we have had,' Grand Lake head coach Jeff Wainwright said. 'Bryant (Williams) and Brett (King) have been my best two since I have been at Grand Lake. He has that kind of talent to take over a game, and we can run behind him.'
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