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National Football League

Catch these locals during the 2021 NFL season

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The 2021 National Football League (NFL) season and all its glory has just kicked off.

Reaching the highest level of America’s most popular sport is no easy feat, but a handful of athletes with deep ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area have done just that, from Lutz to New Tampa to Wesley Chapel and in between.

Here’s a closer look at local NFL players to keep an eye on, as the gridiron season unfolds throughout the fall and winter:

Former Lutz Chiefs star Nelson Agholor is primed for a productive season with the New England Patriots. (Courtesy of New England Patriots media relations)

Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots wide receiver
Local tie: New Tampa native/Lutz Chiefs/Liberty Middle School
Skinny: Nelson Agholor is coming off one of his most productive seasons in his six-year NFL career, hauling in 48 receptions for 896 yards and eight scores with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

The 6-foot, 198-pound Agholor penned that output into a two-year deal worth up to $24 million with the New England Patriots.

Since entering the league in 2015 as a first round (20th overall) draft choice, the now 28-year-old has become a household name, compiling a combined 272 receptions for 3,411 yards and 26 touchdowns (and winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018).

Before launching his pro career, Agholor was making highlight-reel plays as a dual-threat quarterback for the Lutz Chiefs youth football organization, while attending New Tampa’s Liberty Middle School. He would emerge as one of the nation’s top football prospects at Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School and then an All-American at the University of Southern California.

Vernon Hargreaves III, Houston Texans cornerback
Local tie: Wharton High School
College: University of Florida
Skinny: Vernon Hargreaves III has re-upped with the Houston Texans on a one-year deal following a noteworthy 2020 campaign where he appeared in 16 games and registered 72 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and seven passes defensed.

Former Wharton High star Vernon Hargreaves III is a cornerback for the Houston Texans. (File)

A change of scenery to the Lone Star State seems to have done the 26-year-old favors, since being waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers midway through the 2019 season.

Hargreaves, 26, was originally taken in the first round (10th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the hometown Bucs.

But he didn’t quite live up to the hype, battling injuries, allowing big plays and regularly being targeted by opposing offenses due to his youth and smaller stature at 5-foot-10, 204 pounds.

Hargreaves starred at Wharton High School.

In 2012, he was named the Class 8A Defensive Player of the Year and the Guy Toph Award winner as Hillsborough County’s top senior football player, after he registered 110 total tackles, five interceptions, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.

The accolades continued at the University of Florida, where he was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, and consensus All-American and All-SEC selection.

Wesley Chapel native Tre’ McKitty is gearing up for his NFL rookie season as a tight end with the Los Angeles Chargers. (Courtesy of Los Angeles Chargers media relations)

Tre’ McKitty, Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Local tie: Wesley Chapel native/South Pasco Predators/Wesley Chapel High School
Skinny: Tre’ McKitty heads into his rookie campaign months after being a third round pick (97th overall) of the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Though he had what some consider a quiet training camp, the Chargers have expressed optimism about his long-term traits as a pro-style blocking tight end and physical mismatch for linebackers and defensive backs, as he measures 6-foot-4, 246 pounds.

Working in his favor is the ability to pick the brain of Chargers starting tight end Jared Cook, a two-time Pro Bowl selection embarking on his 13th NFL season.

McKitty grew up playing youth football for the Land O’ Lakes-based South Pasco Predators (while attending Pine View Middle School), and played varsity football and basketball his freshman year at Wesley Chapel High School.

From there, McKitty transferred to Tampa Catholic High School and then Bradenton’s IMG Academy, where he established himself as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects in the 2017 recruiting class, with over 30 NCAA Division I FBS scholarship offers. He played major conference college football, first at Florida State University, then the University of Georgia.

Gaither High product Amani Oruwariye enters his third year with the Detroit Lions, as a defensive back. (File)

Amani Oruwariye, Detroit Lions, cornerback
Local tie: Gaither High School
Skinny: Amani Oruwariye enters his third season with the Detroit Lions, where he’s tasked with learning the intricacies of a fresh defensive scheme under new head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

The 25-year-old is primed as one of the Lions starting outside cornerbacks, following a consistent 2020 season where he played in all 16 games, registering 52 total tackles, one interception and seven passes defensed; and opposing throwers completed 55% of their passes when throwing his way for three touchdowns.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner also exhibited some versatility to his game, playing over 100 snaps in the slot.

Prior to living out his NFL dreams, Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither High School under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions combined.

Senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top-100 recruit in the state.

Oruwariye went on to earn multiple All-Big Ten Conference honors at Penn State University, then was selected in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Lions.

He is believed to be the highest NFL draftee to come out of Gaither, where he graduated in 2014.

Former Wharton High standout Auden Tate is a reliable pass-catching target for the Cincinnati Bengals. (File)

Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver
Local tie: Wharton High School
Skinny: Auden Tate has certainly made the most of his opportunities for the Cincinnati Bengals since being a seventh-round draft pick in 2018 — hauling in a combined 58 catches for 760 yards and a touchdown across 28 games in three seasons.

On the whole, the 24-year-old has carved out a role as a reliable rotational receiver for the Bengals, advantaged by his large 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, wide catch radius and aptitude for making acrobatic catches.

Tate now looks to rebound from a 2020 season where he missed seven games, in part due to a season-ending shoulder injury to repair a torn labrum.

The athlete prepped at Wharton High School, moving to the Tampa area as a 10th-grader from South Carolina.

Following a strong junior campaign where he posted 49 receptions for 815 yards and five touchdowns at Wharton, Tate went on to become one of the nation’s most coveted receiver prospects with offers from 20 Division I schools before ultimately signing and starring for Florida State University in 2015.

As a testament to the axiom that hard work pays off, Tate was once cut from his middle school team in South Carolina.

Other notable local products:

  • Pasco High School/University of Florida product Joey Ivie IV (defensive end) was waived by the Buffalo Bills.
  • Gaither High School/Florida International University product Alex McGough (quarterback) was waived by the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Gaither High/Alonso High/University of Miami product Anthony Chickillo (defensive end) retired after six NFL seasons, most recently with the Denver Broncos.

Published September 15, 2021

Wesley Chapel native Tre’ McKitty selected in NFL Draft

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Wesley Chapel native Tre’ McKitty soon will live out his lifelong dream of becoming a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).

The local athlete was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round with the 97th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, on April 30 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The pick occurred on the second day of the three-day, seven-round event broadcast live on national television and radio.

Wesley Chapel native Tre’ McKitty played the 2020 season at the University of Georgia, after transferring from Florida State University. Despite an offseason knee injury, his size, pass-catching and blocking abilities caught the attention of NFL scouts and teams. (File)

The 22-year-old McKitty is expected to sign a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $4.8 million with an $840,000 signing bonus, based on projections from Spotrac, the largest online sports team and player contract resource.

McKitty grew up playing youth football for the Land O’ Lakes-based South Pasco Predators (while attending Pine View Middle School), and played varsity football and basketball his freshman year at Wesley Chapel High School.

From there, McKitty transferred to Tampa Catholic High School and Bradenton’s IMG Academy, where he established himself as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects in the 2017 recruiting class, with over 30 NCAA Division I FBS scholarship offers.

The 6-foot-4, 246-pound McKitty began his college career Florida State University (FSU), where he caught 50 balls for 520 yards and two touchdowns from 2017 to 2019.

He did all that for a Seminoles program in turmoil, transitioning through three different head coaches (Jimbo Fisher, Willie Taggart and Mike Norvell) while on campus.

McKitty transferred to the University of Georgia for the 2020 campaign— about a month after Norvell was named FSU head coach in December 2019 — as a graduate student eligible to play football immediately after earning a degree in criminology.

An offseason knee injury kept him sidelined for the Bulldogs until mid-October.

He caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in just four games for his new team, which went 8-2 and won the Peach Bowl.

This player is able to adapt
All told, McKitty had to be a quick study throughout his entire college career, playing for four different offensive coordinators — forcing him to get acclimated to varying systems, schemes, terminology, and coaching personalities and styles.

McKitty (No. 87) dives for the end zone during a Nov. 28 game against South Carolina. (Courtesy of University of Georgia athletics department)

McKitty believes those experiences will serve him well in the pro ranks, which he detailed in an April 30 post-draft Zoom media conference call.

“I think it does nothing but help me,” he said. “Having to pick up something new every year, I think my ability to learn is quick, so I think that will help me a lot. I definitely think that my experience as far as changing offensive coordinators and staffs is going to help me in the future.”

McKitty was noticeably amped and emotional throughout the virtual media call, as reporters peppered him with questions.

“It’s crazy,” he said of being drafted. “Once my phone rang, my heart started beating right away.”

When asked to describe his skill sets, McKitty observed: “Hard worker. Guy that’s going to get it done all three downs. I feel like I’m an all-around tight end.”

Besides pass-catching abilities evident in his statistics, McKitty is regarded for doing dirty work as an in-line run-blocking tight end.

It’s an area of the game he takes particular pride in.

McKitty put it like this: “Blocking, 80% of it is ‘want to,’ so I think I have that dog in me to want to go and put somebody on their back, and then also, it comes down to technique. I have to continue to grow in that, but I think it’s there, and I’m definitely going to improve on that, as well.”

McKitty’s strong blocking skills are something Chargers general manager Tom Telesco also emphasized during a virtual post-draft media conference.

“One of the best things he does is really block at the line of scrimmage,” Telesco said during the media session.

“Very good size, strength, power, good feet to stay on blocks, and he likes to do it, and you can tell. And, he comes from more of a pro-style offense at Georgia, so he’s had to do it.

“That position’s very hard to find in college nowadays — the guys that do it and do it well — and it’s also a big part of  our offense moving forward here, is having a tight end that can get on the line of scrimmage and block.”

Telesco acknowledged McKitty wasn’t frequently used in Georgia’s passing game as a receiver “so there’s still some things to work with and develop.”

But, the Chargers lead decisionmaker feels McKitty has the tools to succeed in that arena because “he does have some athletic ability to get out in space and run.”

Added Telesco: “He runs well, he’s smooth. His strength, his size, his frame is going to help us in that position group right now.”

Chargers first-year head coach Brandon Staley echoed many of the general manager’s comments about McKitty during post-draft media interviews.
The coach also pointed out the high-level of competition McKitty faced throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference, as well as strong practices and workouts in the Senior Bowl, a post-season college football all-star game that showcases the best NFL Draft prospects.

McKitty was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round (97th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. The three-day, seven-round event was held in Cleveland, Ohio and broadcast live on national television and radio. The 22-year-old grew up playing youth football for Land O’ Lakes-based South Pasco Predators, prep ball at Wesley Chapel, Tampa Catholic and IMG Academy, and college ball at Florida State University and the University of Georgia. (Courtesy of NFL Media Communications)

“We just felt like we were getting a really good evaluation of the guy and felt like you could really see a projection to a guy that can play that position in the NFL,” Staley said. “We just felt really good about him. …He’s a big guy, so adding size to our offense, that was a big goal.”

McKitty is eager to get started.

“I can’t wait to get to get out to L.A., just can’t wait to be in the city,” he said, also thanking the Chargers for the opportunity. “I want to come in and learn, and do whatever I can to help this team win.”

McKitty will join a busy Chargers position group as one of six rostered tight ends — which also includes 13-year NFL vet and two-time Pro Bowler Jared Cook.

The established player is someone the soon-to-be rookie hopes to learn from in training camp and beyond.

“I’ve been watching him the last few years, that’s one of the tight ends I try to watch film on, so it’s going to be an awesome opportunity and I can’t wait to work with him,” McKitty said.

McKitty joins exclusive company
McKitty represents the highest draftee from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area since Wharton High School/University of Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III was picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round (11th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The last local athlete drafted was Gaither High School/Penn State University defensive back Amani Oruwarie, who was taken in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

The draft otherwise showed the Sunshine State is king when it comes to producing NFL-level talent.

McKitty was one of 37 players from Florida high schools selected in this year’s draft of 259 players, more than any other state for the third time in four years.

Texas preps produced 33 players selected in the draft, followed by Georgia (21), California (19), Louisiana (13) and North Carolina (10) as the only other states that had at least 10 players selected, respectively.

Tre’ McKitty

What other NFL experts are saying about Tre’ McKitty:

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: “The ultra-athletic pass-catcher didn’t put up big numbers as a collegian, but his physical tools could make him a key contributor at the next level. McKitty’s upside and potential makes him a solid value pick for the Chargers.”

Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com: “With his size, speed and athleticism, McKitty has the potential to develop into a starting three-down tight end in the NFL.”

Daniel Popper, The Athletic: “The Chargers need some run-blocking juice in the tight end room, and McKitty will provide that. He is fluid and athletic at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds with the traits to develop into a solid pass-catching option, as well.”

Drae Harris, TheDraftNetwork.com: “Tre’ McKitty aligned as the ‘move tight end’ for the Bulldogs offense. He has good athleticism, as evidenced by his good body control and agility. In the run game, he is willing to stick his face in the trenches and block. He will not be a vertical mover, nor will he create a new line of scrimmage, but he has adequate blocking ability. He is dynamic as a pass-catcher due to his outstanding ‘run after catch ability.’ He had a knee scope just before the start of the season and it is unknown how healthy he was playing in 2020.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Pass-catching tight end who can be asked to do some minor positional blocking up front, but he’s better as a move blocker. McKitty’s play speed doesn’t always match his real speed, which is a problem in terms of his separation and ball tracking. He’s better up the seam and on the move than he is getting in and out of breaks. If he can get stronger and learn to play faster as a pass-catcher, he might have a chance as a developmental TE3.”

Steve Muench, ESPN.com: “McKitty shows the ability to create separation and find soft spots in zone coverage. He displays strong hands in traffic and does a good job of plucking the ball away from his frame. He was underutilized during his college career, but he showcased his higher ceiling at the Senior Bowl.”

Published May 12, 2021

Super Bowl project seeking donations

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Community partners are teaming up with the National Football League, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a Super Bowl project that will put books, sports equipment, school supplies and games into the hands of local children.

The Super Kids-Super Sharing campaign is looking to put sports equipment, books, school supplies and games into local children’s hands.

The project, called Super Kids-Super Sharing, has been implemented in every Super Bowl host community for the past 22 years, according to an NFL Green news release, and area residents are being invited to help.

Super Kids partners will host collections through Dec. 18 at their facilities, and donated items will be shared with the children the organizations serve, and with Repay Tampa Bay, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

Participating partners include the YMCAs of Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, City of Tampa Parks and Recreation, the City of Tampa, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and numerous schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

New and very gently used books appropriate for schoolchildren, sports equipment of all types, school supplies, and board and video games can be dropped off at these locations:

  • Hillsborough Education Foundation, 2306 N. Howard Ave., Tampa: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Environmental Education Center, 4398 N. Riverside Drive, Tampa: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • New Tampa Recreation Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.: Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon
  • East Pasco Family YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • New Tampa Family YMCA, 16221 Compton Drive, Tampa: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gently used donated items should be in excellent condition; new items also will be accepted.

For more details and complete list of participating partners and locations, visit tinyurl.com/y5pgafe3.

Published December 09, 2020

Check out these locals in 2020 NFL training camps

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Like other sports organizations, the National Football League (NFL) has succumbed in some way, shape or form to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The league already has scrapped its preseason games, and training camps have a much different look — all taking place at team facilities without fans and visitors.

With myriad health and safety precautions in place, America’s most popular sport has insisted on a full 16-game regular season. A full set of playoffs also will take place.

Whether fans will be allowed into stadiums for regular season games remains largely up in the air, however.

Some franchises plan to proceed with limited capacities. Others have said they will go forward without fans in the stands.

At least one team — the Las Vegas Raiders — has officially announced it plans to play the entire 2020 season at its brand-new $1.84 billion stadium with no fans.

Moreover, dozens of NFL players have voluntarily opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus or other unspecified reasons.

However this unique 2020 season shakes out, you can bet on seeing several pros take the field with deep ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — by way of Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Dade City, respectively.

Here’s a closer look at those locals suiting up as NFL training camps ramp up, with hopes of making a team’s final 53-man roster or 16-man practice squad by the league’s Sept. 4 cut date.

Las Vegas Raiders wideout Nelson Agholor is a Lutz Chiefs football alum. He spent the past five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles media communications)

Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver
Local tie: Lutz Chiefs

The 6-foot, 198-pound veteran pro wideout is embarking on his sixth NFL season — his first with the Raiders after spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl in 2018.

Before he became a household name registering a combined 224 receptions for 2,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in his pro career, Agholor was making highlight-reel plays as a dual-threat quarterback for the Lutz Chiefs youth football organization, while attending New Tampa’s Liberty Middle School.

Agholor would go on to become one of the nation’s top football prospects at Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School and then an All-American at University of Southern California. He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round (20th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Agholor, 27, doesn’t forget his football-playing roots. During the 2015 NFL offseason, he made an appearance at a Lutz Chiefs practice at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, speaking to players about the bonds and life lessons formed in youth football.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo spent his freshman and sophomore years at Gaither High School. (Courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers media communications)

Anthony Chickillo, New Orleans Saints, linebacker
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound linebacker has seemingly lived up to expectations since entering the league as a sixth round pick (212th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 NFL Draft, out of the University of Miami.

After spending his entire career in the Steel City, the 27-year-old now takes his talents to New Orleans, where he’ll compete for a backup defensive role after signing as a free agent in March.

Altogether, Chickillo has played in 65 regular season games with nine starts, while also being a core contributor on special teams for Pittsburgh. He’s recorded 89 career tackles, 7.5 sacks for loss, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries; he’s also played in four postseason contests.

Before launching into the game’s highest ranks, a younger Chickillo could be seen disrupting opposing quarterbacks on Friday nights at Gaither High School.

Chickillo played at the local school his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2008 and 2009, before transferring to Alonso High School and shaping up into a five-star prospect boasting more than 40 college scholarship offers.

His sophomore season at Gaither, Chickillo tallied 77 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He also spent time as a tight end and offensive lineman on the team.

Chickillo in March 2017 visited his old stomping grounds, giving the Gaither football program a pep talk in the midst of spring football practices.

Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is a Wharton High School alum. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Vernon Hargreaves III, Houston Texans, cornerback
Local tie: Wharton High School

Since being a first round pick (11th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2016 NFL Draft, the hometown kid has had a somewhat underwhelming pro career — criticized for allowing big plays and becoming one of the most targeted corners by opposing NFL offenses. The 25-year-old corner has been somewhat injury prone, too, including a hamstring tear, groin strain and shoulder labrum tear between 2017 and 2018.

But, a new environment outside of Tampa Bay seems to be serving him well.

The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Hargreaves was waived by the Bucs in the middle of the 2019 season, then picked up by the Texans, where he tallied 21 tackles and two passes defensed in six games and two starts; he was re-signed by the Texans in March.

Hargreaves starred at Wharton High School. In 2012 he was named the Class 8A Defensive Player of the Year and the Guy Toph Award winner as Hillsborough County’s top senior football player, after he registered 110 total tackles, five interceptions, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.

The accolades continued at the University of Florida, where he was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, and consensus First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC selection.

Athletes run in the Hargreaves family. His younger sister, Chanelle, was a standout on the University of Florida volleyball team. His father, Vernon Jr., was a two-time All-American linebacker at the University of Connecticut and is a longtime Division I assistant football coach, presently a defensive line coach at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Pasco High School product Joey Ivie has played for five different NFL franchises, and currently is in the Tennessee Titans training camp. (File)

Joey Ivie, Tennessee Titans, defensive end
Local tie: Pasco High School

The 25-year-old Dade City native is now in his fifth different NFL franchise since being taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 301-pound defensive lineman has spent much of his pro career on various practice squads, but now seeks a larger role as a backup within the Titans 3-4 defensive scheme.

Thus far, Ivie has played in eight career NFL regular season games; his two career tackles came as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

In addition to the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs, Ivie also was a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

Before starring at the University of Florida and later reaching the NFL, Ivie shined as a multisport athlete at Pasco High School, where he graduated in 2013.

The Pirates football team, then coached by Tom McHugh, went a combined 36-3 and captured three district titles in the three seasons Ivie spent on varsity. Ivie’s best season came as a senior — where he racked up 89 tackles, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles in 12 games.

A defensive end by trade, Ivie was also utilized as a fullback and tight end while in a Pirates uniform. His younger brother, Andrew, also starred at Pasco High and briefly played football at Florida before an injury ended his playing career prematurely.

Ivie’s late sister, Jordan, passed away in 2015, a month before she would have graduated high school, due to injuries sustained in a car accident in Dade City. Ivie has said he uses her memory as motivation and has shared these moments on social media.

Houston Texans reserve quarterback Alex McGough prepped at Wesley Chapel and Gaither high schools. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Alex McGough, Houston Texans, quarterback
Local tie: Wesley Chapel High School/Gaither High School

The 24-year-old McGough has yet to throw a meaningful pass in an NFL regular season game, but teams seemingly appreciate his skillset enough to keep him rostered, mostly as a practice squad player.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller is on his third NFL franchise since being taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. In addition to Seattle, McGough also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars before landing with his current team, the Texans.

So far through training camp, McGough projects as the team’s third-string quarterback, behind incumbent starter Deshaun Watson and backup AJ McCarron.

Closer to home, McGough began his prep career at Wesley Chapel High School, where he played varsity football, baseball and soccer.

He transferred to Gaither High School as a sophomore, and would go on to compile nearly 5,000 career passing yards and 50 passing touchdowns in three varsity seasons, graduating in 2014.

Despite showy statistics, McGough was rather lightly recruited, surprisingly, winding up at Miami’s Florida International University (FIU).

He proved doubters wrong there, too, setting several program records en route to over 9,000 career passing yards and 91 total touchdowns.

McGough’s uncle is former NFL punter and Super Bowl Champion Kelley Goodburn. McGough’s younger brother, Shane, also a Gaither product, is a redshirt senior offensive lineman at FIU.

Detroit Lions defensive back Amani Oruwariye prepped at Gaither High School. He begins his second NFL season. (Courtesy of Detroit Lions media communications)

Amani Oruwariye, Detroit Lions, cornerback
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 24-year-old Oruwariye looks to build off a promising rookie season where he registered 17 tackles, two interceptions and three passed defensed in nine games — and would’ve put forth a stronger showing had he not been hampered by a midseason knee injury.

But, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner will have to navigate another hurdle entering his second season, as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Detroit Lions in late July.

A two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection at Penn State University, Oruwariye was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

With that, Oruwariye is believed to be the highest NFL draftee to come out of Gaither High School, where he graduated in 2014.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include Alex McGough (seventh round in 2018), Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010) and J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005); and, New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) who attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions combined. Senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top 100 recruit in the state.

Cincinnati Bengals third-year wide receiver Auden Tate is a Wharton High product. (Courtesy of Cincinnati Bengals media communications)

Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver
Local tie: Wharton High School

The 6-foot-5, 223-pound wideout looks to build off a breakout 2019 campaign that established him as one of the Bengals’ top offensive targets — hauling in 40 receptions for 455 yards and a touchdown. It marked a significant jump in production from his rookie season two years ago, where he compiled just four catches for 35 yards in seven games.

The 23-year-old prepped at Wharton High, moving to the Tampa area as a 10th-grader from South Carolina. He went on to become one of the nation’s most coveted receiver prospects with offers from 20 Division I schools, ultimately signing with Florida State University (FSU) in 2015.

Following a productive career at FSU, Tate was the Bengals’ seventh round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Quite impressive, considering Tate was once cut from his middle school football team in his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina.

Published August 12, 2020

Gaither alum selected in NFL Draft

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Before he became a big-time college football standout at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye could be seen locking down wide receivers on Friday nights at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High School.

Now, Oruwariye is advancing on to the sport’s biggest stage — the National Football League (NFL).

The Penn State defensive back and 2014 Gaither graduate was selected in the fifth round (146th overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL Draft, which wrapped up on April 27.

Before he was an All-Big Ten cornerback at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither High School. He graduated from the local high school in 2014. (Courtesy of Gaither High athletics)

Oruwariye joins the latest in a growing line of Gaither products to be drafted into the NFL.

He’s also the second athlete drafted from the local high school in as many years.

Former Gaither/Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough was selected in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks in last year’s NFL Draft.

As a fifth-round choice, Oruwariye is believed to be the local high school’s highest NFL draftee.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005) and Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010). Current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions. His senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top 100 recruit in the state of Florida.

Oruwariye lived up to that billing and more at the Division I FBS college ranks.

After redshirting his freshman season at Penn State, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back went on to play in 48 career games and develop into a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection.

He tallied eight career interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 108 total tackles in his Penn State career.

His best season came in 2018 as a redshirt senior — leading the Nittany Lions with 12 pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions, to go along with 51 tackles (two for loss) in 13 starts.

The yearlong performance earned him first team all-conference honors and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.

The 23-year-old Oruwariye was initially projected by many draft experts to go higher in the draft, given his combination of size, length, athleticism and production at the cornerback position, to go along with an impressive showing at the NFL combine that saw him post a 4.47 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 16 reps on the 225-pound bench press and 10 feet in the standing broad jump.

In a media conference call following his selection, Oruwariye highlighted his physical gifts, which he figures to translate to the sport’s most competitive level.

“(My size) just allows me to match up with bigger receivers,” Oruwariye said. “It allows me to use my body to my abilities and really dominate at the line of scrimmage, and go up with receivers and make plays on the ball. There’s a lot of strengths that my size brings, and I’m hoping to implement them into my game.”

Although he wasn’t selected as early as anticipated, Oruwariye said he was happy to be given an opportunity, but still is out to prove wrong the other NFL organizations that passed on him.

Oruwariye put it like this: “I knew my time would come, my opportunity would come, so I’m not going to sit there and dwell on what didn’t happen and what should’ve happened. I’m just going to make the other 31 teams that didn’t draft me pay when my opportunity comes and just hold my standard. I’m going to work hard regardless of where I’m picked. It doesn’t matter what day, when, where — I’m going to work hard. That’s just how I am, that’s my standard.”

Oruwariye is expected to report to the Lions three-day rookie minicamp, which runs May 12 through May 14.

He is expected to sign a multiyear contract worth nearly $3 million in total value.

Published May 08, 2019

Lutz Chiefs at 40: It’s time to celebrate!

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For decades, it’s been the place to be on Saturdays — for hundreds of players, cheerleaders, coaches and spectators.

The Lutz Chiefs played in the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (Courtesy of Lutz Chiefs)

The Lutz Chiefs, celebrating the league’s 40th year this season, has offered boys and girls a chance to play and an opportunity to develop their athletic skills, whether it be as football players or as cheerleaders. The league’s cheer squads and teams are open to children ages 5 through 14.

The league also has contributed to the sense of community that Lutz enjoys, as parents on the sidelines get to know other parents, and players get to know children from different schools who compete on the same teams.

On Sept. 29, the league is hosting a reunion for Chiefs alumni, which they’re dubbing “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The event begins with games starting at 9 a.m., a varsity game at 3 p.m., and a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event take place at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz.

The Lutz Chiefs Spring Team Cheer Squad won first place at Reach The Beach, in Daytona, at the spring 2018 competition.

The league also is hosting a Great Gatsby Gala on Oct. 5, at Cheval Country Club, intended to raise money to pay for a shade cover for the bleachers —  so spectators can be more comfortable while watching their children or grandchildren play, said Amy Lancaster, Lutz Chiefs director.

The league was established in 1978 and, since then, the football teams have won more than 19 different Super Bowl Titles, and the cheerleaders have won 17 different league titles, Lancaster said.

The league’s home is the Oscar Cooler complex — named for the man who attended hundreds of meetings of the Hillsborough County Commission to persuade commissioners to buy an orange grove so the community could build itself a place for youth sports.

Coach Jason Turk guides Ronan Baggs during a flag football game at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Over the years, the complex has evolved and improved, but the community spirit that created it so many years ago remains intact.

There are some families who have been involved with the Lutz Chiefs for generations.

“Right now, we have a coach that coached in the ’80s. He’s now helping his son coach his grandson,” Lancaster said. “So, we have three generations on the field.”

Currently, there are around 140 kids involved, between football and cheer. Plus, there are about 40 volunteer parents and coaches, she said.

But, it’s not just about football and cheerleading, Lancaster said.

Johnathan Blalock played for the Lutz Chiefs during the Pasco Police Athletic League jamboree when The Chiefs were still part of PPAL. That association lasted nearly 30 years, until organization joined the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (File)

“We’re making young men and women. It’s not just about the sports. It’s about cultivating character and commitment to something, and (to) our community,” the director said.

There’s a sense of connection and camaraderie, Lancaster added.

“I was at Publix (on Lutz Lake Fern and North Dale Mabry Highway) the other day. It felt like half our team was there,” Lancaster said.

Stacy Turk, who grew up in Lutz, said that the league’s longevity speaks well for it.

Her family is heavily involved in the program.

Her daughters, 11-year-old Taylor and 9-year-old Tylar are cheerleaders. Her 6-year-old son, Porter, plays flag football and her husband, Jason, is the head coach for flag football.

Turk said she genuinely loves The Lutz Chiefs because of the outpouring of love that coaches display, and because of the structure the league provides for youths.

Coach Anthony Perrone huddles with his team.

“It’s awesome to see the compassion that these coaches, on the field — whether it’s cheer or football — have for their players,” Turk said. “My kids look forward to going.”

The Lutz Chiefs was associated with the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010.

Over the years, it has helped prepare young athletes, who have gone on to play at the high school, college and National Football League levels.

For all football-related inquiries, contact Rick Brodsky, athletic director, at
(813) 786-6754 or .

For any cheer-related inquiries, contact Maggie Brodsky, cheer director, at
(813) 786-2370 or .

The Greatest Show on Turf
When: Sept. 29, games beginning at 9 a.m.; varsity game at 3 p.m.; followed by a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz
Details: All Chiefs alumni are encouraged to show up to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary. There will be games to watch, reunions among old friends and a good old-fashioned sense of community.

Great Gatsby Gala
When: Oct. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: The Cheval Country Club, 4312 Cheval Blvd., in Lutz
Details: The Lutz Chiefs will host a Great Gatsby Gala, to celebrate its 40th year as part of the community. There will be an open bar, silent auction, live music, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. There are three ways to help: be a sponsor, participate with goods or services, or attend the gala.
Cost: Tickets are $75 per person or $125 for a couple. Proceeds will go toward the purchase and installation of shade covers for bleachers.
Info: Email . Tickets: Call Stacy Turk at (813) 732-8170.

Published September 26, 2018

O’Brien’s a destination for Steelers fans

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As it turns out, you don’t have to live in Pittsburgh to be surrounded by hundreds of Steelers fans for a National Football League game.

You just have to be inside the confines of O’Brien’s Irish Pub, 15435 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

Before Steelers games, tables at O’Brien’s are reserved for members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club. Seated counterclockwise at the table: Melinda James, Sarah Scarborough, Jeremy Frazier, Bre Urrel, Ray James and Shawn Honner. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Before Steelers games, tables at O’Brien’s are reserved for members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club. Seated counterclockwise at the table: Melinda James, Sarah Scarborough, Jeremy Frazier, Bre Urrel, Ray James and Shawn Honner.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

For the past 21 years, O’Brien’s has been the official destination for Steelers fans to watch NFL games, since partnering up with the Bay Area Black and Gold Club, an organization for Steelers fans living in the area.

Founded by the late Walt Pelc in 1992, members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club used to watch NFL games at Briedy’s Pub in Northdale up until 1994. However, the club’s membership grew so large they had to find a new location large enough to accommodate everyone.

“O’ Brien’s was a big bar right down the road, so they picked that because that had been there for years,” said Marco Fusaro, vice president of the fan club. “It’s been a Steelers bar ever since.”

Being a member of the club, which costs $10 per season, guarantees a reserved seat at O’Brien’s for Steelers games each week during the NFL season.

Having a reserved seat comes in handy, especially for playoff games, when the bar is overflowing with patrons donning black and gold gear. There are often instances where non-members are forced to vacate assigned seats if there aren’t enough tables to go before game time. In that case, non-members usually move to the bar area or the patio to watch the games.

“We have to change our seating format around quite a bit to fit as many people inside as possible,” said Joe Carey, general manager of O’Brien’s. “The seats inside are reserved for club members up until a half-hour before the game. Last Saturday night (Jan. 16), we had about 300 people here.

“We’re a pretty busy venue as it is, and I just factor that in when I do my (food) ordering. We definitely have to step up our wings for football in general, but definitely for the Steelers.”

O’Brien’s, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Jan. 22, is widely viewed as “the home away from home,” for Steelers fans that move to the area from Pennsylvania.

Members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club pose for a group picture outside O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Tampa (Courtesy of Doug DeFelice)
Members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club pose for a group picture outside O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Tampa
(Courtesy of Doug DeFelice)

“Anyone that passes through town knows that we’re the Steelers bar of central Florida,” the general manager remarked. “It’s like you’re in Pittsburgh.”

During a game, the atmosphere at O’Brien’s is often described as “insane,” with patrons donning their Steelers’ jerseys and waving their Terrible Towels as every television inside the pub is tuned in to the Steelers game.

“There’s always wall-to-wall people inside and outside,” said Fusaro, who noted the Bay Area Black and Gold Club has more than 170 members this season. “Everybody cheering and screaming…we have different signs we hold up for players and everybody has all kinds of stuff.”

Pittsburgh native Tom Cupler, who’s been a member of the fan club since 2004, says he’s been at O’Brien’s for every Steelers game since finding the pub.

“It’s just incredible,” Cupler said about the pub’s game day experience. “Everybody moves up and down with the way the game’s going; you know, you’re upset with a bad play, then you’re excited with a good play, and you’re high-fiving and jumping.

“They do such a good job with the club. It’s just amazing the job they do,” he said.

In 2009, Cupler could’ve gotten tickets to Superbowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium, where the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. Instead, he opted to forgo the stadium experience, so he could watch the game with fellow Bay Area Black and Gold Club members at O’Brien’s.

Lori Duke, a friend of Cupler, watched the Super Bowl XLIII victory at O’Brien’s, noting it was one of the best nights of her life.

“At the end of the game…we literally hugged people and screamed for 35 minutes,” Duke reminisced. “All they had to do was have a Steelers jersey on.”

Melinda James and her son, Ray, prefer watching Steelers games at O’Brien’s compared to other area sports bars, where seemingly everyone else is rooting for different NFL teams.

“It’s like a bond, and then we feel like we belong here,” Melinda James said, who joined the Bay Area Black and Gold Club this season. “Here, everyone is wearing the same colors and everyone is cheering at the same time. We’ve met a lot of nice people here.”

Besides the intense atmosphere during games, being a part of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club at O’Brien’s makes the pub have a family-like environment.

Ryan Roberts, an O’Brien’s employee and Steelers fan, said he gets “dual-enjoyment” from working at the pub and from watching Steelers games with fellow fans.

“I enjoy working here,” said Roberts, who works as a bar-back. “It’s one of the most family oriented places where everybody knows each other,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun and we have a lot of fun.”

It’s where Jeremy Frazier, an Ohio native who previously followed the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, officially became a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

“It’s really like family oriented, but you can still come here and have a good time, and crack up with the guys, and at the same time we’ve all got respect for each other,” said Frazier, who actually signed a makeshift certificate transferring his fandom. “Everybody comes and has a good time. It makes you want to be a Steelers fan.”

While O’Brien’s patrons and members of the Bay Area Black and Gold Club were noticeably dejected after the Steelers 23-16 loss to the Denver Broncos, many were glad the Steelers were able to reach the playoffs, despite the wrath of injuries the team faced this season.

“I think everybody was just really hopeful,” Roberts said about the team chances in the playoffs. “They just kept overcoming.”

Published January 20, 2016

See the Bucs, save a lot of bucks

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Football season is starting. That means a fresh start, new players and optimism for the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It also means your wallet might get sacked if you want to see the team live. The very cheapest game tickets are $30 — and at that price, you’d better have great eyesight or a good pair of binoculars. For a better view, you could easily pay twice that much, or more. The best sideline seats are nearly $120 each. And it’s the same price for preseason games, which don’t even count.

On select days in August, you can see the Buccaneers practice and not pay a penny. (Courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
On select days in August, you can see the Buccaneers practice and not pay a penny.
(Courtesy of Buccaneers.com)

But your money will be intercepted before you even get to the gate. If you’re lucky, you might find a parking space for $10, assuming you like long walks on Sunday mornings. More likely, it will be $15 or $25 just to leave your car in the sun for several hours.

And are you the type of person who gets hungry and thirsty?

That’s going to hurt, too. It’s great to have a National Football League team to cheer for and support, but there’s nothing cheap about seeing them.

Or is there?

Beginning Aug. 1, the Buccaneers will have 11 open practices during training camp on select dates through Aug. 19. Admission is free, and parking is free. It’s the best way to see the team in action without breaking the bank.

Before the games, and before the preseason, the team goes through challenging workouts on a daily basis in training camp.

The practice field is where the young players get in their reps, the veterans shake off the rust, and utility players fight hard to make the team. It’s where the coaches work on their game plans, and the offensive and defensive schemes that best fit their players.

While it’s not a game situation, it can be fun and educational for football fans.

After all, you’re seeing the team develop its identity before the season starts. You’ll see players earn spots on the roster, and you might see a few wrinkles that get used during the regular season.

And, if you really want to see how the team is progressing, the best way is to see them for yourself.

Best of all, you’ll see the money in your purse stay there. You can go to a practice or two (or all 11, if you want) and not spend a penny. Just find a date and time that works for you, show up and spend a couple of hours watching the team, and enjoy the start of a new football season.

And if you have young fans in the family, the experience is even better. Children under 12 can go on the field and get autographs from players after practice. The Buccaneers also have a special Kids Zone during the open practices, which includes football skills stations, a dunk tank and face painting. You might even see the team’s cheerleaders and mascot, Captain Fear, too.

There’s also discounted concessions, so you can afford to eat or drink something. And you’ll even find the latest merchandise in case you catch a little team spirit and want to spend some of that money you saved watching the team for free.

Unless you know a player or have a rich uncle — or you have a rich uncle who’s also a player — this is the best way to see the team on a budget.

Practice doesn’t count, but it definitely matters. It’s the next best thing to going to a game. And for children, who have a Kids Zone and autographs to enjoy, it might be even better than going to a game.

Plus, it’s free. You can’t get more “On the Cheap” than that. Enjoy.

Practices are at One Buccaneer Place (which is also the address), just off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Raymond James Stadium.

For more information, call (813) 870-2700, or visit Buccaneers.com.

What: See the Bucs in action for free during the team’s open practices
Where: One Buccaneer Place, off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Raymond James Stadium.
When: The free training camps are scheduled for:

• Aug. 1: 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• Aug. 2: 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Aug. 3: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 4: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Aug. 6: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 8: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 11: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 12: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 17: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Aug. 18: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Aug. 19: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call (813) 870-2700, or visit Buccaneers.com.

Published July 29, 2015

Saint Leo University hosts anti-bullying event

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Quinton Aaron doesn’t look as if he could ever have been the target of bullies. After all, at 6-feet-8-inches, he is a sizeable presence.

Actor Quinton Aaron brought his anti-bullying campaign to Saint Leo University on Jan. 27, as the university is founded on a core value of respect—one of six core values. (Courtesy of Jonathan Shoemaker)
Actor Quinton Aaron brought his anti-bullying campaign to Saint Leo University on Jan. 27, as the university is founded on a core value of respect—one of six core values.
(Courtesy of Jonathan Shoemaker)

These days, he also carries the added aura of being a charismatic actor who landed a breakthrough role in “The Blind Side.”

The movie depicted the story of Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman who was adopted when he was a homeless teenager and went on to become a first-round draft choice in the National Football League.

Life was different, though, Aaron said, when he was a skinny youth, with a big forehead and “binocular” looking glasses.

At that point, the actor said, other students often physically and verbally abused him.

And now, he’s determined that other students not suffer the way that he did.

In 2012, the actor started the Quinton Aaron Foundation to focus on anti-bullying and childhood obesity.

Last week he took his anti-bullying program to Saint Leo University where he spoke to a standing room only crowd of nearly 300 people at the Student Community Center.

His foundation and the university’s Office of Residence Life, as part of its Bully Prevention Lecture Series, sponsored the event.

Aaron, who lives in Pasco County, plans to take his program into local schools.

He’s also promoting a free mobile application – CensorOut – that can block hateful messages from being seen by students on social media sites. It is available to Instagram users, but within a month will also be usable with Facebook and Twitter.

“We want to blast this out to the country,” Aaron said.

CensorOut monitors for pre-programmed and self-programmed words or phrases. If hateful messages are posted online, repeat messages can be blocked from being posted. Parents can receive email notification and the message also will be saved as proof of what was said and who sent it.

“It allows kids to stop being bullied and parents to see what these kids are saying,” Aaron said.

Aaron asked the crowd to load the app and many audience members took out their smartphones and did.

“Anything with social media is a great way to get through to kids,” said Kayla Bryant, 19, who plans to become a public school teacher.

“I think it is amazing that he is using his popularity for such a cause. Most adults don’t want to talk about it,” said Bryant, a sophomore at Saint Leo, who herself was bullied in second grade through ninth grade.

The bullying stopped, she said, when “I stood up for myself. I encourage other people to do the same.”

Dade City resident Lucy Payne brought her 8-year-old son, Dallas Payne, and five foster children to Aaron’s presentation. She is past president of the Pasco County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.

Children get bullied for all kinds of reasons, Payne said. The clothes that they wear, their speech, or just the way they look can make them targets for meanness, she added. “I see what goes on: It’s getting them past that.”

David Tyler, the foundation’s executive director, collected contact information from people interested in internships or part-time work with the foundation.

Tyler met Aaron two years ago in Tampa. He previously worked for actor Danny Glover.

Aaron and Tyler kicked off the anti-bullying program more than two years ago with a 45-day national tour to 66 cities and 32 states. They focused on high schools and middle schools.

Aaron was able to get students to open up about their problems by telling them about his experiences.

During his middle school growth spurt, Aaron shot up to 6-feet-4-inches, weighed more than 300 pounds and wore size 17 shoes.

He also had moved from New York to Augusta, Georgia, and didn’t fit in with the popular crowd.

His mother frequently visited his school to complain to administrators and teachers that school bullies beat and verbally abused her son.

She enrolled him in self-defense classes, and she gave him advice.

“There’s nothing that kid can say that can hold anything,” she told him. “What you have to do is show it doesn’t affect you because it shouldn’t affect you.”

Aaron encourages people to be proactive in standing up to bullies.

“Be vocal in your school,” he said. “I don’t care if you are called a tattle-tale. I just want ya’ll to protect yourselves and spread the word.”

Published February 4, 2015

Proposed baseball complex could bring in sport’s biggest names

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Has Gary Sheffield done something the late Hugh Culverhouse never could?

The retired Major League Baseball star is excited about working with James Talton and Blue Marble Strategic in bringing a massive youth baseball complex to Wesley Chapel. But he is looking to bring in other big names too — especially those already associated with youth baseball — like former National Football League and professional baseball star Bo Jackson.

James Talton, the owner of Blue Marble Strategic, talks about his company’s idea to build a youth baseball complex in Wesley Chapel, while partner and retired Major League Baseball star Gary Sheffield listens in. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
James Talton, the owner of Blue Marble Strategic, talks about his company’s idea to build a youth baseball complex in Wesley Chapel, while partner and retired Major League Baseball star Gary Sheffield listens in.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The Culverhouse-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Jackson, the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner, in 1986. But after a trip on Culverhouse’s private jet forced him to forfeit the rest of his collegiate baseball career, Jackson vowed he would never play a single down for the Buccaneers, and refused to sign when the team drafted him.

But 28 years later, Jackson could end up in the Tampa Bay area after all, as one of several sports stars participating in Blue Marble’s proposed 20-field complex at Wiregrass Ranch.

“Bo Jackson wants to be involved,” Sheffield told business leaders at a recent economic development event of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “I just saw him two days ago, and they came down and met with us. All ex-athletes want to do is give back to kids.”

Jackson, who runs his own baseball program in Chicago, was one of several names Sheffield mentioned as interested in participating in some way or another at the $70 million complex, that will be built in part using $11 million in Pasco County tourist tax money. Another one tied to youth sports is former Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third basemen Cal Ripken, whose youth baseball program also has become quite popular in various parts of the country.

“It won’t be a Cal Ripken facility, or a Bo Jackson facility, but we can always integrate all of those things into what we’re doing,” Sheffield said. “What it does is give us the ability to probably have 20 to 30 MLB players that (at) any one time your kid might bump into, and that ups the brand.”

Talton wants to fill Pasco with 20 diamonds — baseball diamonds, that is. Many will have dimensions similar to Major League Baseball, but would include smaller fields as well for younger players. He wants to target teenagers, tapping into an amateur sports camp industry he says is currently worth $7 billion.

“We could make between $18 million and $20 million, and that’s just in the summertime alone,” Talton said. “If we took the 13- or 14-year-olds, and we did nothing else, I could pay down my debt service of $54 million.”

Several investors are ready to sign on the dotted line to fund the project, Talton said, but only after the county guarantees it will spend $11 million in collected tourist tax money from local hotels to help balance out some of the costs.

The return for the county could be extraordinary, according to Talton’s estimates. That includes the creation of an estimated 8,000 jobs, a $318 million annual economic impact boost to the county, and even $9 million in direct revenue from taxes and other costs, that would go directly back to the county.

“We’re already thinking we can make $53 million in revenue each year, and $16 million in net profit,” Talton said.

The more than 100 acres needed to construct the facility, not far from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, would cost about $5 million, Talton said. And it could create Wesley Chapel into a major destination, especially for families looking to spend the money they need to help their kids play better baseball.

The facility could have other benefits as well. Besides possibly expanding to include a small stadium to attract a Major League Baseball team for spring training, the new baseball complex would need plenty of nearby amenities, including hotels and restaurants — providing even more economic opportunities in the area.

“We don’t want this facility sitting out here by itself,” he said. “We don’t want people rushing to Busch Gardens or to Tampa because there is nothing here. We need to see this kind of growth in the immediate area.”

But a grand opening is still some time down the road. Talton has until next week to secure his overall financing, but then he’ll have to work with the county through the land development and permitting stage. If everything stays on schedule, the complex could be open to its first ballplayers in January 2017.

“We can’t predict how big this is going to be,” Sheffield said. “And I think it’s going to be 10 times bigger than what James is putting to paper right now.”

The county has essentially committed $11 million to the project, but Talton says some language in its legal documents need to be cleared up, so that the final amount doesn’t come in below $11 million.

Could the Atlanta Braves someday call Wesley Chapel its home? Click here to find out.

Published October 1, 2014

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