Charles Drew high school will be featured this year in the Great Atlanta Bash at Midtown High School vs. North Atlanta in the first of four games at this year’s event. Drew hasn’t had a winning season since 2015, when the head coach was Dorwyn Lyles. Drew had their best finish in school history, went to the quarterfinals, and had eight double-digit wins that season before their eventual loss to Ware County. Lyles is the current athletic director for Drew. Their best players that year were running back Quarderman Sloan, who rushed for 2,265 yards and 28 touchdowns, and quarterback Joseph Newman who threw for 1,743 yards, rushed for 1,105 yards, and combined for 33 touchdowns. Both players went to college, with Newman going to Wofford and Sloan going to Winston Salem-State.
Transition to today, it’s coach Steve Robinson’s fourth year at the helm. Robinson has yet to have a winning season at Drew, but this year could be different. Expectations are to improve and be the most prepared team in each game.
“I expect us to continue to play hard. You know, work hard, prepare hard, and continue to stay in love with the process of getting better every week,” said Robinson. “As far as wins and losses, you know we want to aim to be the most prepared in every game we play.”
Despite the youth and key players stepping into starter roles, leadership will be paramount and crucial in revitalizing the program. Two names that stand out are LB Tetric Mizell and QB Camron Prather.
Mizell steps into a significant role for the defense and will be the vocal leader. Last year he played in eight games and had 18 total tackles.
“I like what I see in one of our leaders, Tetric Mizell, our middle linebacker. He is constant and has shown great leadership qualities,” said Robinson. “He works hard. He is doing the right things on and off the field.”
Prather will step into the starting quarterback role after limited play time last year. He will be a crucial component and impact player on the offensive end.
“I really like what I am seeing with junior quarterback Camron Prather. Prather has taken monumental steps where he is leading this team,” said Robinson. “He is leading by his action and leading vocally. I am really excited about him.”
Drew will be replacing the production of QB Josiah Jarrett and running back Hakeem Hodges, who were both focal points of the Drew offense. They combined for 2,216 yards, or 86% of last year’s offense. Both players transferred to Dutchtown High School. A name to keep an eye on is Jaylan Aquino, a sophomore this year who will be the bulk of the rushing attack for Drew.
“Jaylan Aquino is going to play valuable running back minutes for us. He’s a great kid, very hardworking, and has shown a lot of improvement,” said Robinson.
Impact players are vital, but they are nothing without your offensive line imposing their will, giving the quarterback time to throw and the running back holes to run through. Drew will implement a completely new unit and will have to grow up fast together if their team is going to have any success this season.
“This year, we had to replace the entire offensive line. We replaced it with a group of great guys,” said Robinson. “The offensive line coach Phillip Nobles has done a phenomenal job getting these guys going, teaching them, bringing them up, and maturing them. These kids are really working as a cohesive group and unit.”
Drew football is a program enduring changes in key positions and trying to right the ship, but its main focus is to remain competitive and prepared. They care about the numbers on the scoreboard, but it goes beyond that. It’s getting their community and families behind them, representing them the right way where they can be proud to be a Drew Titan. It will take time, but the program is headed in the right direction.
Coach Robinson defined what a successful season for Drew would be.
“A successful season for Charles Drew High School is to represent their families, communities, their school, the principal, the administration to the point they are proud of,” said Robinson. “We prepare to win every single game that we play. That is the expectation. However, we don’t want to just look at the numbers on the scoreboard as a win. We want to carry ourselves to where any and everybody associated with the Charles Drew High School program can hold their head up, poke their chest out, and be proud of what we did and how we represented the school.”
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