2024 Preview: Dorman Cavaliers

Dorman will head into the 2024 season with something the Cavaliers haven't had since 2021.   Stability in the head coach's office.   Legendary Cavalier coach Dave Gutshall retired following the 2021 season. His replacement, Dustin Curtis, resigned to take the Lexington job after just one season at the helm. Jake Morris, a former Dorman standout and a longtime assistant, took the job in 2023, and is back for his second year leading the program. Dorman's seniors have seen a whirlwind of head coaches, offensive schemes, and uncertainty. Now, they're returning some depth, some experience, and a level of comfort in the program.   Dorman Assistant Head Coach Malcolm Boyd said consistency at the top and confidence in the system, as well as a number of Dorman products on staff, is huge for the Cavaliers.   "I think it's huge," he said. "We have a saying at Dorman that you just don't know unless you're from here, unless you're around it. It's the way we go about our business and the way we love our school. It's just a different, tight-knit community. It's just special, and if you're not around it for a long time or if you're not from there, you just don't understand it. After our first year together and what we went through, I think it's made us even closer. It's all been new to us, and we were kind of learning on the fly, but honestly it's probably the best thing we could've gone through. Last year's guys were a lot closer and a lot more uplifting that people think, and I think that's just going to propel us into this next season."   Offensively, Dorman will look to improve immediately. [player_tooltip player_id='1308084' first='Brice' last='O'Neal'] returns at QB, and was Dorman's leader in total offense last season. He'll be joined in the backfield by sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'], and will have big-time TE target [player_tooltip player_id='1359211' first='Keenan' last='Arcega-Whiteside'] back as well, along with WR Jarvis Pearson. Up front, Dorman returns four members of an experienced and talented OL in [player_tooltip player_id='809750' first='Landon' last='Greene'], [player_tooltip player_id='402504' first='Parker' last='McMillen'], Nathan Chhoy, and Peyton Hamblett.   One of the newest additions to the Cavaliers' offense will be wearing a headset. Rodney Mooney, who has made several coaching stops including most recently as the head coach at Wilson, will bring his offensive plan to Roebuck.   "Mooney brings an experience and a different look that Dorman hasn't seen probably since the Gutshall years," Boyd said. "To be quite honest, when you talk football with him, and you hear the way he sees things, it reminds you a lot of the same thought process. The biggest thing is he puts the kids first. We went into this thing trying to find someone to hire but making sure first that we got a great person. I feel like we hit a home run."   On defense, a standout pair of LBs returns in [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1316823' first='Dru' last='Darby']. Brayden Melton will anchor the DL, while Dashaun Robinson will be a key for the Cavaliers in the secondary.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] LB, 2025   Anderson is the Cavaliers' top returning tackler, with 58 a year ago. He added two for loss and a sack, picked off two passes and knocked down another, and forced a fumble. Anderson is a physical, active player who has a knack for finding the ball and who will look to lead Dorman's defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1316823' first='Dru' last='Darby'] LB, 2025   Darby's another guy who returns from a very good linebacker corps to bring stability on the defensive side of the ball for Dorman. He notched 44 tackles and four tackles for loss in 2023, picked off a pass, and forced a fumble. He does a great job diagnosing plays and reacting, and he's great at fighting off blockers to make a play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] RB, 2027   Means was third on the team in rushing a year ago as a freshman, and now looks like he'll be the feature guy in the backfield for Dorman. With an offensive line that returns four starters and the ability to turn a tiny bit of space into a huge gain, Means could be the answer Dorman's been looking for at RB.   Brayden Melton DL, 2025   Melton has proven that he can be a disruptive force on the DL for Dorman. He totaled 29 tackles for Dorman a year ago, with five tackles for loss and two sacks. He also knocked down a pass and blocked a kick. Melton eats up a ton of space on the line, brings plenty of pressure, often draws double-teams, and looks equally at home at DT or DE.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1359211' first='Keenan' last='Arcega-Whiteside'] TE, 2025   Arcega-Whiteside does a ton of stuff for Dorman. He lines up at both TE and H-Back, he returns kicks, and he was third on the team in all-purpose yards last year. The most important thing he's developing, though, is his ability as a field-stretcher. He's a huge, athletic target who presents a ton of problems when teams have to match up with him, whether it's coming off the line or out of the backfield.    UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   Carl Sephus DB 2027   Sephus is a player who can help the Cavaliers immediately. He's good in coverage, and doesn't hesitate to come up and stop the run. He closes on plays well, and his speed makes him a hold-your-breath guy in the return game.    McMillen might be the next big thing on Dorman's OL. He's quick and athletic enough to be an outstanding pulling blocker at guard, but he's physical enough to finish run blocks and routinely wins his one-on-one matchups when pass blocking.

Dorman will head into the 2024 season with something the Cavaliers haven't had since 2021.

Stability in the head coach's office.

Legendary Cavalier coach Dave Gutshall retired following the 2021 season. His replacement, Dustin Curtis, resigned to take the Lexington job after just one season at the helm. Jake Morris, a former Dorman standout and a longtime assistant, took the job in 2023, and is back for his second year leading the program. Dorman's seniors have seen a whirlwind of head coaches, offensive schemes, and uncertainty. Now, they're returning some depth, some experience, and a level of comfort in the program.

Dorman Assistant Head Coach Malcolm Boyd said consistency at the top and confidence in the system, as well as a number of Dorman products on staff, is huge for the Cavaliers.

"I think it's huge," he said. "We have a saying at Dorman that you just don't know unless you're from here, unless you're around it. It's the way we go about our business and the way we love our school. It's just a different, tight-knit community. It's just special, and if you're not around it for a long time or if you're not from there, you just don't understand it. After our first year together and what we went through, I think it's made us even closer. It's all been new to us, and we were kind of learning on the fly, but honestly it's probably the best thing we could've gone through. Last year's guys were a lot closer and a lot more uplifting that people think, and I think that's just going to propel us into this next season."

Offensively, Dorman will look to improve immediately. Brice O’Neal Brice O’Neal 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Dorman | 2025 SC returns at QB, and was Dorman's leader in total offense last season. He'll be joined in the backfield by sophomore sensation Nick Means Nick Means 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Dorman | 2027 State SC , and will have big-time TE target Keenan Arcega-Whiteside Keenan Arcega-Whiteside 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Dorman | 2025 State SC back as well, along with WR Jarvis Pearson. Up front, Dorman returns four members of an experienced and talented OL in Landon Greene Landon Greene 6'2" | 330 lbs | OL Dorman | 2025 State SC , Parker McMillen Parker McMillen 6'0" | 275 lbs | OL Westside | 2026 State SC , Nathan Chhoy, and Peyton Hamblett.

One of the newest additions to the Cavaliers' offense will be wearing a headset. Rodney Mooney, who has made several coaching stops including most recently as the head coach at Wilson, will bring his offensive plan to Roebuck.

"Mooney brings an experience and a different look that Dorman hasn't seen probably since the Gutshall years," Boyd said. "To be quite honest, when you talk football with him, and you hear the way he sees things, it reminds you a lot of the same thought process. The biggest thing is he puts the kids first. We went into this thing trying to find someone to hire but making sure first that we got a great person. I feel like we hit a home run."

On defense, a standout pair of LBs returns in Kentavion Anderson Kentavion Anderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Dorman | 2026 State SC and Dru Darby Dru Darby 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Dorman | 2025 State SC . Brayden Melton will anchor the DL, while Dashaun Robinson will be a key for the Cavaliers in the secondary.

STARS SET TO SHINE

Kentavion Anderson Kentavion Anderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Dorman | 2026 State SC LB, 2025

Anderson is the Cavaliers' top returning tackler, with 58 a year ago. He added two for loss and a sack, picked off two passes and knocked down another, and forced a fumble. Anderson is a physical, active player who has a knack for finding the ball and who will look to lead Dorman's defense.

Dru Darby Dru Darby 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Dorman | 2025 State SC LB, 2025

Darby's another guy who returns from a very good linebacker corps to bring stability on the defensive side of the ball for Dorman. He notched 44 tackles and four tackles for loss in 2023, picked off a pass, and forced a fumble. He does a great job diagnosing plays and reacting, and he's great at fighting off blockers to make a play.

Nick Means Nick Means 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Dorman | 2027 State SC RB, 2027

Means was third on the team in rushing a year ago as a freshman, and now looks like he'll be the feature guy in the backfield for Dorman. With an offensive line that returns four starters and the ability to turn a tiny bit of space into a huge gain, Means could be the answer Dorman's been looking for at RB.

Brayden Melton DL, 2025

Melton has proven that he can be a disruptive force on the DL for Dorman. He totaled 29 tackles for Dorman a year ago, with five tackles for loss and two sacks. He also knocked down a pass and blocked a kick. Melton eats up a ton of space on the line, brings plenty of pressure, often draws double-teams, and looks equally at home at DT or DE.

FILM REVIEW

Keenan Arcega-Whiteside Keenan Arcega-Whiteside 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Dorman | 2025 State SC TE, 2025

Arcega-Whiteside does a ton of stuff for Dorman. He lines up at both TE and H-Back, he returns kicks, and he was third on the team in all-purpose yards last year. The most important thing he's developing, though, is his ability as a field-stretcher. He's a huge, athletic target who presents a ton of problems when teams have to match up with him, whether it's coming off the line or out of the backfield.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Carl Sephus DB 2027

Sephus is a player who can help the Cavaliers immediately. He's good in coverage, and doesn't hesitate to come up and stop the run. He closes on plays well, and his speed makes him a hold-your-breath guy in the return game.