Several factors influence the critical improvements required on BYU’s offensive front for the 2024 season, with senior offensive lineman Brayden Keim’s overall performance and health at the forefront.
Keim is expected to secure one of the key tackle positions, and based on the evidence offered over the previous two seasons, the 6-foot-9, 315-pound Alta High graduate should be primed for significant growth.
Keim was given the opportunity to start last season and performed admirably at both tackle positions, where he received high grades. According to Pro Football Focus, Keim saw 663 snaps in 12 games and earned a 69.7 overall grade last season with a remarkable 83.8 ranking in pass-blocking.
“He’s 6-foot-9, so he’s a massive, massive offensive tackle,” said PFF’s Max Chadwick during a radio appearance with ESPN 960. “So he did pretty good in pass protection. He got an 83.8 there, which I believe puts him in the top 25 in the country, which is obviously quite good.”
So, where does that leave Keim in terms of continuing BYU’s current trend of landing offensive tackles in the NFL?
The Cougars football team has had three of its tackles drafted in the last three years, beginning with Brady Christensen, continuing with Blake Freeland, and culminating with Kingsley Suamataia, who was drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs this year.
So, what does Keim need to prove to be considered a draftable offensive lineman?
“The issue is run-blocking,” Chadwick stated. “But he’s a very, very excellent athlete, and I believe he’ll get his name called – probably on day three. He needs to improve as a run blocker, but he was really effective in pass protection last season. The most essential thing is pass protection, so if he can improve a little bit as a run blocker, he will undoubtedly be drafted.”
According to PFF, Keim’s run-block rating was 55.9 last season, indicating that BYU’s offensive front as a whole struggled significantly. However, with new offensive line coach TJ Woods at the helm, Keim and his teammates feel everyone involved will witness significant improvements in general run-blocking throughout the upcoming season.
“As a unit, we’re tight right now,” Keim added. “We’ve had a few new people join, but I believe we’re a solid team and everyone gets along. “Everyone has the right mindset for the future.”
Still developing
Before joining BYU’s 2016 signing class, Keim had never played an offensive down. His time was spent as a tight end, where he used his superior height and agility to distinguish out not just on the football field but also on the basketball court, averaging 10 points per game during his senior season at Alta.
Even though Keim didn’t realize it at the time, playing tight end was not a realistic option for him at the NCAA level, as his father and former BYU offensive lineman Mike Keim both knew.
“I was just really underdeveloped,” Brayden Keim explained. “I was just very small and lacked strength. My father knew I’d eventually be transferred to tackle, so he just let me enjoy my tight end days as long as I could.”
Keim left to undertake a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland and Ireland, then returned to the Cougars for the 2019 football season.
During his mission, he gained over 240 pounds, paving the way for even greater weight gain and a move to his current position as an offensive tackle. His first action occurred during the 2020 season, when he saw little action, followed by two starts in 2021 and ten total games in 2022.
All of this contributed to the former Alta standout’s excellent 2023 season, in which he started eight of eleven games and had significant playing time each week.
“I think it was good for me, especially with it being my first year as a starter,” Keim told reporters. “I think I was able to get more comfortable, and it slowed down for me, a bit, so I could just play and do what I know I can do.”
Given his huge frame, he believes BYU’s blocking system is ideal for him.
“I like our wide zone — being able to cut guys off and then staying in front of them in pass pro,” Keim told ESPN.
Trending toward a strong finish
The environment and culture of BYU’s offensive line group are poised to shift significantly during Keim’s final season in Provo, when Woods takes over the position group from Darrell Funk. So far, after only one practice session, Keim believes he can show development in the film room.
“The football IQ stuff that he brings into meetings has really increased (my knowledge),” Keim told me. “Observing defenses and linebacker actions has taught me a lot.” He’s significantly improved my football IQ to a level I’ve never experienced before.”
Keim has praised Woods’ rigorous yet productive approach, much as he has for on-field training.
“Once we got something corrected, we were able to improve and not keep making those same repetitive errors,” Keim told the crowd. “Coach Woods does well identifying when guys aren’t making the right steps or using their hands right, so once he identifies that we’re able to move on past those errors and then improve our game.”
Keim missed spring practice due to offseason surgery on both of his thumbs, but he expects to be fully recovered by fall camp, when he will be considered for a starting spot at right or left tackle.
In terms of parts of his game that he wants to improve, he wants to enhance his pass-blocking technique first, followed by being a more efficient and consistent run-blocker.
“I’m focusing on my first step and not wasting movement,” Keim told reporters. “Outside of that, I’m working on just getting stronger and a bigger lower body so I’m able to move people a little better this year.”
Criddle’s conclusion
BYU has a strong track record of recruiting, developing, and producing high-level offensive tackles who were either drafted or emerged as high-priority undrafted free agents in the NFL. Much of this had to do with the late Roger French, a famous offensive line coach who coached the BYU trenches from 1980 to 2000.
Brayden’s father, Mike Keim, was among those who found themselves in the league, playing for both the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks from 1991 to 1995. Since French retired, BYU hasn’t had as much success, but that number is undoubtedly increasing.
Since 2000, there have been six BYU offensive tackles that have either been drafted or played in the NFL as undrafted free agents.
The following is a list of notable BYU offensive tackles of the past, dating back to 1972:
- Kingsley Suamataia (2024)
- Blake Freeland (2023)
- Brady Christensen (2021)
- De’Ondre Wesley (2015)
- Matt Reynolds (2012)
- Dustin Rykert (2003)
- John Tait (1999)
- Eric Bateman (1998)
- Eli Herring (1995)
- Mike Keim (1991)
- Neal Fort (1991)
- John Hunter (1989)
- Warren Wheat (1989)
- Nick Eyre (1981)
- Lance Reynolds (1978)
- Dave Hubbard, (1977)
- Brad Oates (1976)
- Gordon Gravelle (1972)
Having a father that has gone through the same process will definitely be to an advantage for Keim. Barring any injury, I will be surprised if Keim isn’t one of the next BYU offensive tackles taken in the NFL draft and/or picked up and as a high priority undrafted free agent in 2025.
