2026 Preview: Dorman Cavaliers

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   Dorman came within one game of a 5A state championship appearance last season, falling in the semifinals to eventual champion Dutch Fork. Then they lost a ton off a standout defense.   So why are expectations so high in Roebuck? Well, the Cavaliers' offense has the capability to be explosive, and the defense has a ton of experience guys who might be just as good as last year's squad.   "We're extremely excited," Dorman assistant coach Brandon Sarver said. "You can't replace a few of the seniors from last year. But we've had tremendous buy-in in that going back to January our guys have been committed to the weight room, and one thing I can say about this year's team is that in my experience the best teams I've ever been a part of are when the best players are the best leaders. And we have that this year."   Some of those leaders are defenders who will be expected to step into an even bigger role this season. Those include standout DL [player_tooltip player_id='1702151' first='James' last='Porter'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='1818140' first='Antwone' last='Tarrence'], and DB [player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas'], all of whom stood out as juniors on a Dorman defense that featured three statewide all-stars.   "Watching those guys last year and growing up playing with them showed me the things I need to do to be a leader," Porter said. "It's going to help me a lot. I haven't really been that guy yet. This year as a senior I feel like I need to be that guy. It's a lot of training and a lot of work, and I feel like I've got a lot to prove."   Offensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1820160' first='Cooper' last='Patterson'] will step into the QB role, and Sarver said the team is excited to watch him work.   "You'd be hard-pressed to find any player on our team that doesn't have confidence in Cooper," he said. "Even though he's still a young guy and unproven, they have confidence in him and they trust him."   Patterson will have a wealth of offensive weapons, including [player_tooltip player_id='1820158' first='Dai'Shion' last='Watkins-Hymes'] who was one of the Cavaliers' leading receivers a year ago. But where Dorman is expected to shine is on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] [player_tooltip player_id='1816266' first='Isaac' last='Tate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2106758' first='Carter' last='Nash'] make up a seriously stout backfield, which will look to lead the way.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] RB, 2027 (pictured) - Folks who have seen a bunch of Dorman football rank Means among the best to ever carry the ball at the school. That's only hard to believe if you've never seen him. Means has got all the tools, he's got a big offensive line to run behind, and he's got a packed backfield to help lighten some of his burden. He rushed for more than 1,400 yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, and 7.4 yards per carry last season, and he looks poised to do even more.   [player_tooltip player_id='1702151' first='James' last='Porter'] DL, 2027 - Consider this when you're thinking about Porter: Dorman had a pair of All-Star DL a year ago, and Porter might be better. He made his mark quietly last season, and this year it's his defense to lead. Porter has the athleticism to play edge but is capable of shifting inside and eating up space. He's a terror behind the line of scrimmage, and he's had a great offseason showing off his skills at camps and invitationals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816831' first='Tre'gan' last='Mickler'] WR, 2027 - Mickler is a prototype slot guy, a smaller player who can get lost in holes in the defense and who routinely does the little things to make himself stand out. Mickler is great at going to get the ball in traffic, and he shines winning 50/50 matchups when the ball's in the air. He's capable of being a key possession guy, but he can also be a fantastic downfield weapon.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818140' first='Antwone' last='Tarrence'] LB, 2027 - Dorman's had an assembly-line of LBs for the past several seasons, all of them big and active and fast. Tarrence is the latest in that line, and he's a good one. He's got excellent lateral movement, he finds the ball in a hurry and he's violent when he gets there, and he'll benefit greatly from a big, disruptive defensive line in front of him.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas'] ATH, 2027 - How's this for a slash player - Thomas notched 10 interceptions for the Cavaliers last season, served as the team's short-yardage QB taking direct snaps and was their emergency QB, and returned kicks and punts. There's not much his athletic tools won't let him do for Dorman.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Kentavion Anderson S - Anderson, now at Clemson, was an anchor on the back end of the defense for the Cavaliers. A quick, physical hybrid, he allowed the guys in front of him to take some chances by serving as an ultimate eraser.   Christian Waring DL - The Cavaliers' Shrine Bowl DL was a massive physical presence, whether it was clogging running lanes or chasing down QBs.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1632107' first='Emavian' last='Gibson'] EDGE/DL, 2029 - Gibson is already 6-foot-3, he has a massive wingspan, and he's a monster in the weight room. His physical tools are off the charts, and his play will only get better and better with increased reps.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818345' first='Jordan' last='Lewis'] OL, 2029 - Lewis already has P4 offers rolling in as a rising sophomore. He's 6-foot-3, 265 pounds with great feet and technique. He's another guy who can be a building block for Dorman for a while.    There are already whispers about just how good Nash can be, and football might well be his second-best sport.   One of the Cavaliers' leaders on the baseball diamond was plenty good as a football freshman, seeing extensive playing time and opening eyes with every opportunity.   He's a natural RB, but the good thing is that he won't have to take on all those responsibilities this year. Instead, the Cavaliers will likely use him in a bunch of ways, and that's going to put tremendous pressure on opposing defenses.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions throughout July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.