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The Joe Thomas Award is given annually to the state's top senior offensive lineman as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after former Brookfield Central and University of Wisconsin athlete Joe Thomas, who went on to great success in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. After an All-American career at UW, Thomas was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl each of his first ten years in the league and is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 22 semi-finalists, and six finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners are announced the week of the state finals.

After earning Honorable Mention All-State as a sophomore at Whitefish Bay, Joe Brunner was a First Team choice by the WFCA in 2020/2021, adding WFCA All-Region on defense as well. Brunner gave a pledge to Wisconsin this summer after entertaining offers from top programs around the country. He’s a ready-made offensive linemen that should be able to step in at Wisconsin quickly, with outstanding size, movement skills, footwork, and technique. He's a big reason the Blue Dukes are heading into Level 3 of the playoffs. "Joe has been a 4 -year starter here at Whitefish Bay and has been the most dominant football player I have ever seen," said head coach Jake Wolter. "You rarely see the size, strength, and athleticism combination that he possesses in high school, but, what sets him apart is his attitude and mean streak when he gets between the lines. He doesn't just want to beat you, he wants to annihilate you each play."

Carson Hinzman has been a mainstay on varsity since his freshman season for Saint Croix Central, attracting attention first in-state and then well beyond. The two-time WFCA All-State choice on the offensive line added First Team honors on the defensive line last season as well. Holding offers from Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, and the home-state Wisconsin Badgers, he’s one of the most highly-coveted interior linemen in the country and is reportedly down to UW and Ohio State as his college pick. "One of the hardest working and most athletic players I have coached with or coached against in my career," said head coach John Tackmann.

While the Sun Prairie Cardinals did not play in the 2020 fall season, Evan Malcore was one of the players that used that additional time to work on his game and his body, and it paid off in a big way. The key figure up front for Sun Prairie, he earned WFCA First Team All-State recognition after helping pave the way for an unbeaten Cardinals season. In June he announced his commitment to Northern Illinois and head coach Thomas Hammock. "He has the size, strength and feet needed to be dominant in all phases of offensive line play," said head coach Brian Kaminski. "He is a leader of the offensive line and the guy that we constantly run behind! He is great in pass protection as well, as we leave him on an island to protect our quarterback's backside."

Joey Okla was part of an incredibly talented offensive line group in the Classic Eight last season, earning Second Team All-Conference recognition. A mauler of an interior lineman, he showed solid movement skills as well in getting to the second level. Okla gave a commitment to Illinois and new Illini head coach Bret Bielema earlier this year. "It gave us comfort knowing he could play any offensive line position," said head coach Matt Harris. "He often stepped in at center when we had an injury at that position."

Billy Schrauth is a four-year varsity performer for Springs who has twice been a WFCA All-State selection, adding defensive All-State honors as a junior as well. Like Brunner and Hinzman, he has his pick of college options from around the country, with Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Ohio State the most likely destinations. "Billy works hard daily to improve his football technique and to make the players around him better," said legendary head coach Bob Hyland. "He is the most physical player I have had the pleasure of coaching in 51 years. His scholarship offers from all the football powerhouses in the country are  proof that he is the real thing."

Chad Schuster took home Honorable Mention All-State recognition from the WFCA last season as a key part of the offense for the Sabers, who went a perfect 5-0 before having to get shutdown prior to the WIAA culminating event. Protecting top-ranked quarterback Myles Burkett’s blind side as the left tackle, he does a nice job anchoring in pass set and is a mauler in the run game. The team is unbeaten once again this fall and ranked number one heading into Level 3. "Chad is the best offensive lineman we have had in my 30 years at Franklin," said head coach Louis Brown. "He's a captain who everyone on the team loves. Tremendous feet and size and is as physical of a lineman as we have had."

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.