Tampa Gaither Rides The Wave of Success

After finishing 12-2 a year ago and reaching the Class 6A state semifinals, fourth-year head coach Kirk Karsen has found the recipe for success.

If you followed Hillsborough County football through the years, especially the public schools – outside of Armwood and Plant, getting the respect across the state of Florida has not been easy, but time are changing.

More and more public schools in the area are boasting more talent, quality coaching and year round commitments to getting better and being able to advance in the playoffs.

What the Cowboys returned this year was a talented group that includes several high-level Division I talents, including quarterback Kiael Kelly Kiael Kelly 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021 FL (Ball State commit), lineman Andrew Kilfoyl (USF commit), cornerback Jordan Oladokun Jordan Oladokun 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021 FL (Iowa commit), tailback Ricky Parks Ricky Parks 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Tampa Gaither | 2021 State FL (Utah commit) and cornerback Jordan Young Jordan Young 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Tampa Gaither | 2021 State FL (Florida commit), among others.

Regarded as one of the top football programs in 6A this season, could this be the year that this time finally gets over that hump? Time will tell as the playoffs are set – and finishing out the season healthy is the main objective.

In getting to 6-0, the Cowboys opened with a 34-6 win over Tampa Chamberlain, 34-14 over competitive Tampa Bay Tech, Hudson Fivay (43-0), Tampa Chamberlain (27-0) again, Land O’Lakes (56-0) and powerhouse Seffner Armwood (17-10).

THE COWBOYS FILE

SCHOOL: Tampa Gaither

HEAD COACH: Kirk Karsen

2020 RECORD: 6-0

CLASSIFICATION: 6A

COWBOYS TO WATCH IN 2020

2021 – Malik Anderson, DT

2022 – Richard Andrews, WR

2021 – Nick Bartalo, LB

2023 – Kobe Bender, WR

2022 – Mikhai Campbell, DB

2021 – Isaiah Coleman, RB/LB

2021 – Jean Duclos, CB

2022 – Mario Eugenio Mario Eugenio 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Tampa Gaither | 2022 State FL , DE/OLB

2023 – Geovan Febus, DL

2021 – Cameron Alonso-Floyd, LB

2022 – Zachary Helman, PK

2023 – Carnell Herring Jr., RB/LB

2021 – Willie Jackson, Jr., DT

2021 – Jay Johnson, LB/S

2021 – Kiael Kelly Kiael Kelly 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021 FL , QB

2021 – Andrew Kilfoyl, OT

2022 – Kobe McCloud Kobe McCloud 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Tampa Gaither | 2022 FL , S/LB/QB

2021 – Jordan Oladokun Jordan Oladokun 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Tampa Gaither | 2021 FL , WR/CB

2021 – Ricky Parks Ricky Parks 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Tampa Gaither | 2021 State FL , RB

2022 – Drelin Pittman Drelin Pittman WR Tampa Gaither | 2022 FL , WR

2021 – Hayden Reed, LB

2021 – Josh Smith, WR

2022 – Tawfiq Thomas, DT

2021 – Asa Vanburen, DL

2021 – Jonathan Wallace, DE/TE

2023 – Eugene Wilson III, WR/CB/FS

2021 – Jordan Young Jordan Young 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Tampa Gaither | 2021 State FL , CB

You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.