Melissa quarterback Noah Schuback needed a word with his offensive line at halftime of the Frisco game – he had too much time to throw. He'd stand in the backfield, progressing from his first read to his fourth read, wondering why he hadn't been touched yet. Not only did he finish the night completing 24-of-32 passes for 310 yards, he led the Cardinals with eight carries for 93 yards.

"We were on the sidelines, and the coaches were saying we had all the time in the world to throw the ball," junior left tackle Max Wright said. "I think that's what we're best at, pass protection."

Melissa head coach Matt Nally said that while most people watch the quarterback, most blame goes to the offensive line. But the Cardinals have a front five that ranks among the best in Dallas-Fort Worth.

"Most of the eyes are on the offensive line," Nally said. "People like to gripe and complain at those guys, just wear them out. They do a great job of sticking together. They're very much a fraternity within their own (position group)."

Right guard Owen Hollenbeck, an Oklahoma commit, is the No. 52-ranked player in the 2025 DCTF Hot 100. Nally says he was born to be an offensive lineman. At 6'4, 320 pounds, Hollenbeck's agility gives defenders headaches as a pulling guard. His theatrics are the only thing more impressive.

"When he gives a pregame speech to the kids, he sounds like a WWE wrestler," Nally said. "If anything happens where football doesn't work out, he needs to go be a wrestler."

Hollenbeck has attended Sooners' games since his freshman year of high school and has already received Norman's scouting report from his sister, who attends the university. The chance to work with renowned offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh made the decision a no-brainer.

"Everyone talks about accepting NIL, but it's not about that at OU," Hollenbeck said. "It's about development, the coaches, the staff and who you are as a person."

While Hollenbeck was born to play offensive line, left tackle Max Wright only took to the position full-time last year, having previously rotated to defensive end. He moved to Melissa in October 2023, five weeks into the season, and only participated in the last week of spring football due to injury. Nally says the junior's potential is untapped because this season is his first time playing football in two years, which makes him an exciting prospect at 6'8, 310. Wright is a heavy Texas Longhorns lean. 

While the group's physical size is uncommon, so is their academic standard. Nally says he frequently catches his offensive linemen discussing their engineering and physics homework and can't believe how different they are from him.

"Max (Wright) and Owen (Hollenbeck) will talk to you about World War II for 45 minutes, and you're like, 'I didn't even bring it up,'" Nally said.  

If Hollenbeck and Wright are the group's headliners, then senior right tackle Ryder Slaton is the not-so-hidden gem. Slaton played wide receiver until the coaching staff moved him to tight end as a sophomore. He's lined up at tackle the last two years after growing to 6'7, 295 pounds. Slaton has graded out the highest of all offensive linemen in Melissa's first two games. With one offer to Lamar, Nally says whichever college signs him is getting a steal.

"I think he's got a chip on his shoulder to prove that, 'I'm in the same conversations (as Hollenbeck and Wright),'" Nally said.