Commerce Township — After helping lead his team to a state championship as a freshman, Cass Tech quarterback Donald Tabron II experienced his first loss as a starter in the 2025 state title game, falling 42-19 to Catholic Central.
While Tabron, who rarely has time off, spent much of December recovering from injuries sustained late in the season, the loss has continued to linger for both him and his teammates.
“I wouldn’t say it’s something we completely erased because it’s something we always look back on as motivation and something we don’t want to happen again,” Tabron said.
To ensure it doesn’t happen again, Tabron first had to identify areas he could improve. To do that, he stepped away from football.
This offseason, Tabron joined Cass Tech’s golf team and qualified for regionals in his first season. While golf has provided a mental escape, it has also benefited his football game. The sport has improved his hip rotation and sharpened his ability to evaluate risk and reward — skills that translate directly to the quarterback position.
The quarterback, who now holds 38 scholarship offers, also made several college visits this offseason, including trips to Oregon and Auburn, where he picked the brains of Ducks quarterback and former Detroit King star Dante Moore and Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown.
After months of self-reflection, Tabron’s biggest takeaway was that he needed to become a better leader.
With the departures of players such as 2025 Mr. Football Corey Sadler Jr., Cass Tech enters next season without its leading receiver and one of its most vocal leaders. After Sadler helped ease Tabron’s transition into the starting role as a freshman, Tabron now understands he must take on a larger leadership role heading into his junior season while helping develop the next generation of playmakers.
This offseason has given him the opportunity to do exactly that.
When Tabron arrived to train with Quarterback University founder and quarterback trainer Donovan Dooley at Walled Lake Western High School on Sunday, he was only asked to bring one receiver. Instead, he pulled up with a car full of Cass Tech teammates.
He brought wide receivers Mylan Griggs, Peyton Robinson and Marquell “Eagle” Evans Jr., while Tailor “Track” Thomas and several others watched from the sidelines. This offseason, Tabron and his teammates — particularly his receivers — have been nearly inseparable.
“If he says pull up to the field, we’re all there,” Evans said. “As long as he’s saying the time and date, we’re there.”
The group spends time together on and off the field. They attend sporting events, play video games and train together whenever possible. Tabron even worked out with several of them in North Carolina while visiting a quarterbacks coach.
Since becoming Cass Tech’s starting quarterback, Tabron has served as a connector for his pass catchers. For Thomas, who played alongside Tabron’s younger brother, Djoser, in youth football, Tabron was already a familiar face. Tabron encouraged Thomas to run routes while he was on the sideline and told other quarterbacks he was his tight end. He also helped Evans adjust after transferring from River Rouge last season.
On Sunday, Tabron took the field wearing gear collected from his offseason travels. He sported a Hellstar shirt from his 7-on-7 team, a Penn State backpack, a University of Arizona towel and Oakley Meta glasses he received at Justin Jefferson’s Flight School.
Despite competing alongside 15 other quarterbacks, Tabron seemed to know everyone on the field. He greeted players with handshakes, joked around between drills and even tried to get teammates to say embarrassing things while recording videos.
Once Quarterback University testing began, however, Tabron flipped the switch.
“Nobody is more focused than Donald is. It’s unmatched,” Griggs said.
Tabron was grouped with Walled Lake Western’s Easton Meek, Kehber Nijher of Mango (Florida) Armwood and Deaken Johnson of Fishers (Indiana) Hamilton Southeastern.
His day began with lessons on offensive line protection before moving to a station where quarterbacks used poker chips to build offensive and defensive formations. Their retention was then tested as they learned complex play calls and recited them back to Dooley.
The classroom portion concluded with Quarterback University coach Connor Sampson discussing how quarterbacks should carry and present themselves both on and off the field.
Once the players moved outside, Tabron frequently took the lead in drills and approached every rep with purpose. He routinely sought feedback after throws, correcting mistakes in his footwork on the sideline before returning for another rep.
During play-action post-route drills, Tabron’s arm talent immediately stood out.
Before the drill even began, Griggs jogged over to the receiver line assigned to Tabron’s group so the pair could squeeze in extra reps. Few words were exchanged, but their chemistry was obvious. Often, a simple glance was enough for them to understand one another.
The two, who once competed for the starting quarterback job on the Eastside Raiders during their youth football days, were now working together to perfect their timing. Griggs, nicknamed “Go-Ball,” was eager to run his favorite route, knowing his quarterback would place the ball exactly where it needed to be.
“He’s Tom Brady, I’m Randy Moss,” Griggs said.
Moments later, Tabron dropped a deep ball into the back of the end zone for a touchdown, with Griggs hauling it in without gloves.
Tabron wasn’t finished impressing the college coaches and recruiting analysts in attendance.
At one point, Sampson challenged Tabron’s arm strength. The quarterback responded by launching another deep ball before turning around and jokingly questioning who lacked arm strength.
“He sent it to the moon,” Sampson said of Tabron’s throw. “That’s a nuclear bomb.”
Sampson eventually got the last laugh, ending the session as the only quarterback to hit the crossbar from 40 yards away.
The night concluded with the older quarterbacks offering advice to younger players who had spent the day watching closely. Tabron was eager to share not only what he learned during the session, but also the lessons he took from an offseason of growth.
“Stay level-headed,” Tabron said. “Never get too low or too high.”
Tarohn Finley is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Donald Tabron’s self-improvement quest takes him to surprising places
Reporting by Tarohn Finley, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tarohn Finley, Special to The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
