By Osceola standards, 2023 was a rough year. Despite winning their district and made the state playoffs, the Kowboys finished with an uncharacteristic 4-7 record. And while many factors contributed, injuries to key players have to be at the top of the list.
Among most devastating one was star linebacker Elijah Melendez, who was lost for the season in the opener with a lisfranc injury—a breaking of bones and tearing of ligaments in the foot. For Melendez, it was a frustrating early end to the season and made coming back in 2024 a priority.
“The injury was probably the toughest battle I’ve had to face. It was hard mentally not being able to be out there with my teammates, but it gave me different type of love for the game,” he said. “I knew when I came back, I would take the game for granted again. I wanted to come back and contribute to a successful season.”
Melendez did more than contribute. The senior commit recorded 72 total tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, a sack and four interceptions in leading Osceola to a 12-3 record and a state runner-up finish. He anchored a defense that allowed just over 12 points per game in the regular season—against a schedule that included nine playoff teams.
For those reasons, he is the Osceola News-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year.
Melendez was equally adept at stopping the run and the pass—as emphasized by his 94-yard interception return for touchdown in the third quarter of the Buchholz game that helped preserve a 41-35 road win in the state semifinal game.
“He was our emotional leader on defense,” coach Eric Pinellas said. “He played at such a high level this season and could impact the game by both stopping the run but also in pass defense. He’s leaving some awfully big shoes to fill.”
Melendez, who signed a Division I SEC National Letter of Intent to play at Auburn, headlines a list of nine Osceola players named to the 25-member All-County Defensive Team.
St. Cloud’s Alex Springs earns a spot on ONG All-County defense, after being named All-County Offense last week. He is our Ironman (2-Way) Player of the Year. Melendez’s teammate Taevion Swint was the Offensive Player and overall Player of the Year; while Gateway’s Nydrell Thigpen and Tohopekaliga’s Tony Brown are the co-selection for Rookie (Freshman) of the Year. Osceola’s Eric Pinellas, who guided the Kowboys to the Class 7A State Championship game, and Poinciana’s Taron Mallard, who led the Eagles to just their third winning season in school history, are THE Co-Coaches of the Year.
All-County Football Defense
Player of the Year: Elijah Melendez, LB, Sr, Osceola
All-County Team:
Defensive Line: Osceola — Josh Alamo, Sr., Amier Clarke, Sr., Oneil Morel, Sr.; St. Cloud — Dominic Cammarasana, Jr.; Harmony — Mekhi Ealy, Clayton Williams, Sr.; Tohopekaliga — Andrew Hines, Sr.; Celebration — Justin Berry
Linebackers: THS — Chris Charity, Sr., Chase Gilbert, Soph.; OHS — Robert Lee, Sr., Nathaniel Barnett, Jr.; SCHS — Landon Millman, Sr., Bryce Williams, Jr.; Gateway — Isaiah Noel, Jr.
Defensive Backs: HHS — Chase Adams, Sr.; OHS — Jeff Banks, Sr., Ja’Mario Bradford, Jr., Jakari Watson, Jr.; CHS — Tristin McNeal, Sr.; THS — Nashawn Noel, Sr.; SCHS — Alex Springs, Sr.; Poinciana — Ernest Nunn, Sr.
Punter: HHS — Brayden Buehler.
Ironman (2-Way) Player of Year: Alex Springs, St. Cloud
Freshmen of the Year: Nydrell Thigpen, Gateway; Tony Brown, Tohopekaliga
Coaches of the Year: Eric Pinellas, Osceola; Taron Mallard, Poinciana
