No. 51 Cass Tech 2026 Football Preview | T25PS | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 51 Cass Tech
Cass Tech must replace senior production while building the 2026 team around returning quarterback Donald Tabron II.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/7/20265 min read
Cass Tech is No. 51 because the 2026 team has to do two things at once, keep a returning quarterback with championship-game experience and replace the senior production that carried the Technicians back to Ford Field.
Last year's team finished 13-1 and reached the MHSAA Division 1 final. The 2026 roster is a different group, built more around the Class of 2028 than the seniors who left after the runner-up finish.
Marvin Rushing enters his sixth season, and Donald Tabron II gives Cass Tech a clear statistical starting point. The question is how quickly the rest of the roster grows around him.
Team Snapshot
School: Cass Technical High School
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Classification: MHSAA Division 1
League: DPSCD Blue
2025 Record: 13-1, MHSAA Division 1 State Runner-Up
Head Coach: Marvin Rushing
T25PS Preseason Ranking: No. 51
2026 Outlook
Tabron is the reason Cass Tech has a stable place to begin. He threw for 2,819 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2025. MHSAA final statistics also show him throwing for 176 yards and three touchdowns in the 2024 championship game, followed by 153 yards and two touchdowns in the 2025 final. He is the most established returning piece on the roster.
The line is the next part of the 2026 picture. Antijuan Wilkes Jr. returns at offensive tackle, Josh Baker returns on the interior and Harold Medley gives Cass Tech another two-way lineman from the 2028 class. All three are juniors, which gives the Technicians a young group to develop together.
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Julian Taylor returns in the backfield. Collin Sumpter enters his senior season at linebacker, while LaMarcus Army and Peyton Robinson give Cass Tech young players in the secondary. Mylan Griggs, Jemir Lynum and Marquell Evans Jr. add more 2028 names to the returning group. Most of those players will be asked to handle larger roles than they did a year ago.
The 13-1 record is context, not the ranking case. Cass Tech is No. 51 because the 2026 group has a returning quarterback, a young line and enough current contributors to remain in the Division 1 conversation. The difference between staying in that conversation and making another state final will be how the Technicians replace the production that left with the senior class.
Players to Know
Donald Tabron II, QB, 2028 - Tabron threw for 2,819 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2025. He has also produced in both recent Division 1 championship games, with 176 yards and three touchdowns in 2024 and 153 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
Antijuan Wilkes Jr., OT, 2028 - Considered one of the top offensive linemen in the 2028 class,Wilkes gives Cass Tech a returning junior at offensive tackle and an important piece of the 2028 class.
Josh Baker, IOL, 2028 - Baker returns in the interior of the line and is part of a young group that will have to grow together.
Harold Medley, OL/DL, 2028 - Medley returns as a two-way lineman in the junior class.
Collin Sumpter, LB, 2027 - Sumpter is the returning senior linebacker on a roster that otherwise leans young.
LaMarcus Army, DB, 2028 - Army returns as a 2028 defensive back and gives Cass Tech another young player in the secondary.
Julian Taylor, RB, 2028 - Taylor returns at running back and will be part of the effort to replace last year's senior production.
Peyton Robinson, DB/WR, 2029 - Robinson is a 2029 defensive back and receiver, but is expected to play a roll this year as a Sophomore.
Schedule Breakdown
Michigan City at Wayne State is the opener, followed by Sept. 3 at Grandville. Cass Tech then turns into the Detroit portion of the schedule, with five games before the City Championship at Ford Field. Huron Heights from Ontario gives the Technicians a final non-PSL game the next week.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 28: vs. Michigan City (IN), 7 p.m., Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State
Sept. 3: at Grandville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11: at Detroit Southeastern, 5 p.m.
Sept. 17: vs. Detroit Mumford, 5 p.m.
Sept. 25: vs. Detroit King, 5 p.m.
Oct. 2: vs. Detroit Western International, 5 p.m.
Oct. 9: at Detroit Renaissance, 5 p.m.
Oct. 16: City Championship at Ford Field, opponent TBD, 7 p.m.
Can Cass Tech replace last year's senior production before the schedule reaches the City Championship?
Tabron gives the Technicians a trustworthy starting point, but the line, backfield and secondary cannot be carried by one player. The next step is finding out how quickly Wilkes, Baker, Taylor, Sumpter, Army and the rest of the young group become consistent contributors.
T25PS Prediction
Regular Season: 9-0
Postseason: MHSAA Division 1 State Champs. I think by the time the playoffs come around this young group will be in great shape to be the favorites and win their 2nd title in 3 years.
Bottom Line
Cass Tech has a clear 2026 starting point at quarterback and a young group that can grow around him. The 2025 runner-up finish is useful context, but the ranking comes from the returning roster and the work left after graduation.
No. 51 fits a team with a returning quarterback, a strong 2028 group and significant replacement work across the roster.
If the younger players take on larger roles quickly, Cass Tech can stay near the top of Michigan Division 1 and make another run at Ford Field.
