The Detroit News high school football preview: Charter

Teams are listed in predicted order of finish and 2025 records are in parentheses.

Romulus Summit Academy North (8-2, 5-1)

Head coach Matthew Swain has built up one of the best programs in the Charter and Summit Academy is expected to be among the best in the league once more. There’s plenty of talent. Junior QB Oween Sudduth holds an offer from Southern Miss, senior DB Kris King has one from Central Michigan and senior RB/LB Everett Roberts holds an offer from Olivet Nazarine. Junior WR/RB Antonio Boykins and two seniors on the offensive line, OL Xavier Hobbs and OL Kevin Pettigrew, return on offense, too. On defense, three starters return: seniors DL Omari Smith and DL Ravaun Love, and junior DL Jimmy Sudduth. 

Detroit Edison (9-3, 6-1)

A good team a year ago, Edison lost a few key pieces under head coach Chanterius Brock, namely Max Baker, who now plays at Western Michigan. But this team is expected to be back around the top of the Charter league again in 2026, led by returning seniors QB Myles Matlock, RB/LB Jai’Den Plowden, WR/DB Mekhi James-Davis, and ATH Kenvi Wyche-El. The group is also experienced up front, with five seniors back: DE/DL Karmelo Carlisle, DE/LB London Lester, OL/DL Donovan Davis, OL/DL Dreion Howard and OL/DL Omar Seaton.

Ecorse (8-3, 4-2)

Head coach Larry Johnson has two basic goals in mind for his Ecorse team: Compete in the league, and make the playoffs. And he’s got a good returning group to build on in pursuit of those goals with 11 returning starters, including four seniors on defense: DL Cordairo Knighten Jr., LB Rishon Langford-Smith, DB Delorean Ruffin and DB Jeremy Jennings. Juniors MLB Malik Putman and DL Daniel Charley, plus sophomore LB Jaylen Banks round out the returners on defense. On offense, senior RB Chrishaun Massey Johnson and three juniors — WR Jayden McMath, OL Marshawn Martin and OL Joshua Milton — and sophomore WR Rakari Crocker will help true freshman QB Thomas Burgess II. 

DetroitVoyageur College Prep (4-6, 3-4)

Head coach Ricky Gonzalez has built up quite a roster at Voyageur, but it will be quite young in 2026 one way or another, with plenty of underclassmen expected to be in notable roles. Those younger players will be looking to several returning starters for leadership including junior QB Tyler Capstraw and a number of seniors: OL/DL Johnnie Culbert, WR/LB Carl Lake Jr., DE Cordale Clark-Bey and LB Chris Guise. Sophomore LB Darius Wright Jr. returns to start, too. 

Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy (8-3, 5-2)

Chandler Park Academy enjoyed a strong 2025 season, and head coach Marlon Baker is hoping for much of the same in 2026. To lead the way for his team, Baker will be looking to seniors RB/LB Charles Oliver and WR/DB Azir McAdoo along with WR Ryian Kelso and OL/DL Kenneth Jackson. After finishing near the top of the league in 2025, Baker is aiming for a similar outcome in 2026. 

Warren Michigan Collegiate (6-5, 3-4)

Head coach John Guth leads a program hoping to climb back to the top of the Charter league without a lot of key seniors from last year. Even still, this squad has a good collection of senior talent to lean on: WR/DB Amare Smalley, TE/DE Kevin Cooper and LB Vonzel Simmons, among others. Warren Michigan Collegiate will also have a strong crop of juniors to fill out the lineup.  

Hamtramck (4-5, 4-2)

Hamtramck moves up to the Gold Division in the Charter league under first year head coach Amir Jones, who has plenty of experience coaching in the Charter league. Picked to bring up the rear of the division, Jones hopes by virtue of being a Division 2 school, Hamtramck can be a deep and talented squad and compete right away in the stronger Charter division. His squad will lean on sophomore QB Tristan Powell and three returning starters up front on offense: OL Landen Brown, OL Kendell Hinds and OL Mohammad Ali. Brown and Hinds are both seniors. Senior WR/Edge Zion Gadson, who is 6-foot-6, and RB Blake Sherman are both new to the team and expected to make big contributions. 

Melvindale Academy for Business & Tech (9-1, 7-0)

After romping through the Silver in 2025, head coach Andrew Hall expects much of the same in 2026, leaning on four returning starters: OL/DL Kahiron Perry, RB/LB Djimon Butler, RB/LB Khyrin Lewis and OL/DL JA’Eirre Ware. Hall wants the offensive line to be the strength of the team, and Perry — an all-state pick last season — is the root of that. The group overall will be young, but Hall wants to keep building on last year’s success. 

Redford Westfield Prep (5-4, 4-3)

It’s just the third season that Westfield Prep is playing football, but head coach Cortreale Starks is looking to make it to the playoffs already. And he’s got a good reason to think it can happen, as this program has increased its win total each of the first two seasons. Freshman QB Alante Martin will take over the show for the offense. He will be throwing the ball to WR/DB DeAunte Mead, a multi-year starter who Starks calls “Mr. Westfield,” and ATH Erion Redd, a junior and returning starter. Up front, OL/DL Desmond Gardner and OL/DL Jamir Moton anchor things. 

Southfield Bradford Academy (6-4, 5-2)

Head coach Terrance Sims put together quite the turnaround in 2025, taking a team that was winless the year prior and going to the playoffs with six wins. He’s got a good squad to try to build on that success, led by senior QB/LB Nyzere Briscoe. He’ll have plenty of weapons to get the ball out to, namely seniors TE/DE Paris Acuff Jr. and WR/DB Donovan Austin. Sophomore WR/DB Elijah Winters is playing football for the first time and Sims has high hopes.

Detroit Community (6-4, 4-3)

Detroit Community had a strong showing in 2025, but needs to replace a pair of seniors on the front lines. Community does have some seniors to lean on at the skill positions, though: WR/TE Sean Bow, WR Marcel Smith and WR/DB Jerrell Buchan. Junior QB Quantavious Sapp returns to start for another season.

Detroit Leadership Academy (0-8, 0-6)

Head coach Marcus Cribbs shook up his roster in the offseason, shedding guys he felt weren’t fully locked in on football and the team. He’s hoping that, plus some young talent can help Leadership Academy to better results in 2026. It will be a young team, with just a few seniors, but junior QB Eric Cornish returns and will have senior RB/LB Josh Brown to help shoulder the workload. 

Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac (2-7, 2-5)

It’s been diminishing returns for this team since a playoff appearance in 2023, winning three games in 2024 and then just two last year under first-year head coach Patrick Wilson. A playoff spot might be rich for a turnaround this season, but getting closer to .500 and respectability is certainly doable. 

Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The Detroit News high school football preview: Charter