With two weeks to go until the kickoff of the 2024 high school football season, our preview series continues with the Dorman Cavaliers. We caught up with head coach Jake Morris for the latest on the team’s offseason workouts and possible starters.
Dorman went 3-8 in the regular season in 2023, with a 1-3 in-region record and earned an at-large bid to the 5A playoffs. The Cavaliers season ended in the first round against Byrnes after a 44-17 loss.
“We already turned the page [from 2023], we squashed it,” Morris said. “We’re returning some really good guys.”
Offense
Dorman’s offense has a mix of returning starters as well as new talent off of a strong JV team from 2023. New offensive coordinator Rodney Mooney will have several options at multiple positions, and decisions to make for starters as well.
The offensive line returns four starters to a group that rarely ran out the same unit game-to-game in 2023. Parker McMillen returns after an early-season injury caused him to miss all of last year, alongside Peyton Hamblett, Nathan Chhoy and Landon Greene.
“These guys have a lot of varsity reps now,” Morris said.
Another position of depth that the Cavaliers have is at wide receiver, where they return multiple playmakers. Keenan Arcega-Whiteside, who committed to Rice University over the summer, will play a hybrid wide receiver and tight end role to expand his usage. Additionally, Dai’shone Watkins-Hymes returns after significant playing time as a freshman in 2023 alongside Chase Cheeks.
Nick Means, another rising-sophomore with playing time, will be in the mix at running back. Nahjay Fowler, a two-time heavyweight state champion in wrestling, is expected to rotate in with Ruben Landrum.
Quarterback remains a competition throughout preseason, with the two contenders being returner Brice O’Neal who played mostly in the second half of 2023 and rising sophomore Makorean Anderson.
“Right now we have two really good quarterbacks and we’re going to play the best one,” Morris said.
Defense
The position group with the most confidence on the entire team going into 2024 by Morris is his defensive front.
“We think the front seven can be as good as we’ve ever had here,” Morris said.
The defensive line returns Brayden Melton and Tyrese Johnson alongside ends James Porter and Kelshard Harris. The line has two groups that the coaches can feel good about, so expect plenty of rotation to keep guys fresh.
Dru Darby returns as the starting middle linebacker after starting every game last season. Linebacker is part of the defense that the staff is very excited about, and adds Jordan Darby with Darryl Parker and Taylor Sowell.
The cornerbacks are young for this Dorman team, expected to start sophomores Carl Sepheus and Jabez Thomas. However both projected starting safeties are seniors, Braeden Gravely and Dashaun Robinson. One of last year’s starting safeties, Kentavion Anderson, has moved to a nickelback spot.
“We’re young but very athletic [in the secondary],” Morris said. “Those guys are picking up things quickly.”
Dorman opens up the 2024 season at home against Greenville on August 23rd, before three straight road games. Non-region play wraps up with two away from home against Grayson (GA) and Greenwood, then a September 13th bye week separates non-region games from region games starting at Riverside on September 20th.
The Cavaliers first home region game is against Byrnes on September 27th, followed by a road game at Boiling Springs and two straight at home against Spartanburg and Wade Hampton. The regular season finishes away against Gaffney and at home taking on Eastside.
