PRZMD Team Previews: Dunbar Poets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunbar went 12-1 last season, capping it off with a 50-26 win over Henry E. Lackey in the MPSSAA 2A/1A Championship Game. Their only loss came to Mervo, who finished as Class 4A/3A champions (20-12). The Poets pretty much ran through every team after that en route to a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaiyon Newton (RB), Jayvon Burris (RB), Jalen Gause (WR), Normarui Johnson (WR). Matthew Shivers (OL), Eugene Cummings (DL), Jabari Torbit (LB), Darius Wragg (DB), Anthony Lyde (LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Season Schedule (as of 7/4/26, <strong>HOME GAMES IN BOLD</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/4 @Milford Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/18 Forest Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/2 Lake Clifton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/9 City College</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/15 Mervo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/30 Patterson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite losing a good amount of talent on both sides of the ball, Dunbar has a lot of underclassmen who gained a lot of experience last season. The majority of the offensive line returns, so that's a big plus. They'll need several players to step up in the offensive skill position area. With that being said, another state title run is on the way for the Poets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631164"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a47e0d9167bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 2A/1A South 1st Team Offense selection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews is currently 6-4, 297 pounds......that's a huge human being. As you probably can guess, he is one of the big reasons why Dunbar was able to have four players with 250-plus yards rushing. Andrews is a serious road grader and more likely than not, moves people out of the way. The key for him will be to show college coaches that he's also solid in the pass-protection department and that he can move around at his size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631783"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a47e0d9168cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 2A/1A South 1st Team Offense selection. At the Under Armour Baltimore Combine, his measurements were as follow: 6-foot-1, 297 pounds, 4.94 second shuttle, 97.6 inch broad jump. For his size, he's good good feet, he's agile, and explodes out of his stance. I expect him to continue to dominate at the point-of-attack. Love the fact that is able to get to that second-level and hit moving targets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2240743,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a47e0d916964"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 2A/1A South 1st Team Offense selection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Started 8 games, had 20 pancakes at his offensive guard position, and also played defensive tackle. Checks in at 6-1, 275. I like that he fires out of his stance and gets inside the defensive linemen's shoulder pads. Takes quick control of the rep once the ball is snapped. Initiates contact in both pass and run blocking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1741739"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a47e0d9169ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Class 2A/1A South 1st Team Offense selection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holmes is the leading returning rusher on offense (48 carries for 399 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games) and also had 101 receiving yards and 104 kickoff-return yards. Defensively, he intercepted five passes, broke over seven others, and forced two fumbles. Expect to see Holmes make it known that he's one of the better two-way players in the state this season. He will most likely get a lot more chances to make big plays with the football in his hands even more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2240756,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a47e0d916a6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Branch finished with 58 total tackles from his middle linebacker position last season. He also contributed 265 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns on 38 carries last season as a running back. His future at the next level is brightest at middle linebacker. Branch plays a physical brand of football and stays in attack mode. Last year's highlights show that he has excellent closing speed in the box. Solid tackler and can go sideline-to-sideline. Undersized but plays like a big dog. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others to watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1492259' first='Malik' last='Davis'] | DL | 6-2 | 280 | 2028 (2025 season: 39 total tackles)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2240759' first='Gha'meoni' last='Kemp'] | DB | 5-8 | 2028 ( 2025 season: 39 total tackles)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1706735' first='Khamari' last='Tucker'] | WR | 6-0 | 155 | 2027 (2025 season: 15 catches for 200 yards and five touchdowns)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->