Dubre following in brother’s footsteps
By Thomas Ashworth
MDJ Sports Writer
Two seasons after former
McEachern linebacker Ese Dubre
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led the Indians’ defense,
coach Franklin Stephens will
turn to his younger brother,
O vie, to help lead McEachern’s
offensive line.
Ese Dubre was regarded as
one of the best linebackers in
the state of G eorgia during his
time at McEachern. Now, he’s
headed into his sophomore year
at Stanford after winning the
Cardinal’s 2021 Defensive G reg
Piers Award, awarded to the
most outstanding special teams
scout team player.
“My brother and I are the
same,” Dubre said. “We both
have determination in our eyes.
I’m very happy for him and very
proud of him.”
Dubre, who stands at 6 -foot-4,
330-pounds, continued to take
his play to the next level at the
offensive tackle position last
season, picking up All-Region
and All-County honors along
the way.
With similar determination
as his brother, Dubre remains
focused on perfecting his craft
both during his time on the field
and when analyzing his play off
the field.
“When I look through my game,
I’m very focused and determined
with everything that I do right
and everything I do wrong,” Dubre
said. “I look back at the bad
stuff I do and try to correct it
and try and make a statement
that I can do whatever (it takes).”
Along with his play, Dubre
has a drive to leave the Indians’
football program better than he
found it, practicing with the younger
players on the roster and showing
them the standard instilled in
him as an underclassman.
“Right now, practicing trying
to get the younger guys in
the mix of things of what we’re
trying to accomplish and what
we’re trying to do,” Dubre said.
“We’re trying to teach them how
to play smart, how to think, not
j ust on the field but off the field
too. That’s the standard.
“What I’m looking to do is
help my teammates out any way
I can before I leave here. Support
the team in the final year,
get a good record this year and
go out with the bang.”
McEachern football coach
Franklin Stephens bragged about
the opportunity to watch the
offensive tackle develop, with
Stephens’ first year coaching at
McEachern also being Dubre’s
freshman year.
“I love O vie,” Stephens said.
“We came in together. I’ve gotten
the opportunity to see O vie
grow from being a baby to being
a dang good football player.
Two years ago, O vie was forced
to play as a sophomore.”
Despite his sophomore classification
in his first year, he
made the most of his opportunity
to play, lining up against
Texas A& M commit Lebbeus
O verton and West V irginia commit
Justin Benton.
This strong competition won’t
slow down for Dubre in his senior
year, with McEachern’s schedule
headlined by games against G rayson,
Marietta and Milton.
“He’s lined up against elite
people for the last two years,”
Stephens said. “O ne of those
years, he wasn’t ready. He’s
ready now.”
“He’s a great coach, he knows
what he’s doing,” Dubre said
about Stephens. “He gave me
help, I started to understand
the fundamentals of the offensive
line.”
Dubre has received offers from
Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, U T
Martin and Charleston Southern
ahead of his final year with
the Indians.
“You can have all the talent
in the world, but if you don’t
use that talent, it’s going to be
all for nothing,” Dubre said.
“McEachern is a place where you
can bring your talents to use.”
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