The Big 12, SEC and AAC add Kowboys
Playing Buchholz High Friday night for an opportunity to get to the FHSAA Class 6A State Championship Game may be the immediate concern for the Osceola Kowboys, but Thursday was the day to look into the future for four talented players.
In a Thursday afternoon assembly, seniors Connor Howes, Robert Lee and Elijah Melendez all signed college scholarship papers to play at the Division I level.
UPDATE: Running back Taevion Swint postponed his decision on Thursday; on Friday, he said in a note attributed to him to the USA Today Network that he'd be joining the University of Central Florida, where he'd verbally committed next year.
"I’m a Knight ... the reason I picked UCF and gave my heart to the school is that it’s in my hometown. I like the environment, and I like what’s going on there," the letter said. "I chose to delay my signing for a couple days because I had to make sure that I was still making the best decision for me and my family and the things I can do. UCF gave me the chance to produce and do what I can do and be the best version of me."
“I am so incredibly proud of this group and what they have meant to our program,” Coach Eric Pinellas said. “These guys have won four consecutive district championships, advanced to the Final Four twice and have won 34 games despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, year-in and year-out. The fact that all four will be playing at the highest level of college football will tell you everything you need to know about their abilities as football players.”
Swint, a 4-star recruit and rated 247th nationally in ESPN’s list of top 300 seniors, appeared leaning towards UCF even after head coach Gus Malzahn resigned last week to become offensive coordinator at Florida State—who was rumored to be making a strong push to flip Swint’s commitment.
“A couple of things have come up recently, so I am delaying my final announcement for at least a day,” Swint said at the signing ceremony. The senior running back addressed his teammates at the signing. “Just want to thank all the guys in this room. I love all of you guys and you are the reason for my success.”
Whether it is UCF or some other school that eventually signs him, they will be getting one of the most electrifying running backs in the state. Despite averaging less than 12 carries per game, Swint has rushed for 1,600 yards and career-high 24 touchdowns this year. He averaged over 10.3 yards per carry and posted ten 100-yard rushing games. He scored at least two touchdowns in each of his last 11 games.
Although he saw limited action in just parts of six games during his junior year because of injuries, Swint compiled staggering career numbers. With at least one game remaining, he has compiled 4,480 yards rushing, 5,738 all-purpose yards and has scored 74 touchdowns and 450 points.
Swint had over 25 Division I offers, including eight from SEC schools, as well as Miami, FSU, Colorado, Michigan, NC State and Penn State.
“We’ve had so many great running backs at Osceola High school, so I wouldn’t even try to rank where Taevion would be on the all-time list, but it’s pretty easy to say he is one of the best ever,” said Pinellas, who was also a Kowboys running back in the 1980s.
Labeled a D-I prospect since his freshman year at St. Cloud and listed as an ESPN 3-star recruit, Connor Howes (6-6, 320) transferred to Osceola for his senior year and immediately solidified the Kowboys offensive line. Highly recruited by several schools, Howes committed to Arkansas earlier, before making the decision to flip to Ole Miss over this past weekend.
“It wasn’t an easy choice or process, but at the end of the day I had to make a decision that I thought was right for me,” Howse said, noting the decision to transfer from St. Cloud to Osceola helped his development. “There were a lot of factors that went into that decision, but moving from an offense that relied heavily on the pass to a school that was predominantly run oriented, really helped develop me as an all-around better lineman.”
“Connor came to us with a reputation of being an outstanding pass blocker,” Pinellas noted. “We were a little surprised how quickly he picked up our run blocking schemes and how quickly he became really good at it. He’s got great all-around technique and he’s big, smart and explosive.”
Melendez was the highest rated of the Osceola players. Listed as a 4-star recruit and ranked 203rd in the nation in ESPN Top 300 list. He stuck to his verbal commitment to attend Auburn University, turning down numerous power programs including Oregon, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
It was a huge turnaround year for Melendez, who missed all but one game of his junior season with an injury. He enters Friday’s state semifinal with 69 total tackles, 9 tackles-for-loss, a sack, and three interceptions. He's been instrumental against both the run and the pass, as Osceola allowed just one team to gain 100 net yards rushing all season and allowed just over 10 points per game.
“Missing last season was really rough, so it was important come back this year, stay healthy and show what I could do,” Melendez said. “The whole team stayed relatively healthy this year and now we still have a chance to play for a state championship.”
There was some speculation that Melendez would play strong safety or outside linebacker at the next level, but the senior said Auburn plans to keep in him at middle linebacker, where he says he is most comfortable.
Playing alongside Melendez, ESPN 3-star prospect Robert Lee received offers from FIU, Kentucky, UCF, Western Kentucky and Appalachian State before inking with Florida Atlantic University. Lee has been a starter at Osceola since his sophomore year. In 2024, he's recorded 75 tackles, including 22 behind the line of scrimmage.
“I want to thank God, my family, my coaches and my teammates for helping me get to this point,” Lee said. "I had some options, but I developed a great relationship with the coaches at FAU, the location will allow my family to come watch me play and it just seemed like the place for me.”
In his OHS career, Lee has 229 tackles, 54 TFL and 7 quarterback sacks.
Pinellas added that the annual Signing Day Ceremony at Osceola was by far and away his favorite day of the school year.
“These kids work so hard all year long and are so dedicated to the program and football, so today is their reward for that hard work,” Pinellas said. “Knowing that you had a part in developing that talent and helping these kids get to the next level means so much to me as a coach.”
Osceola may have more players sign during the season's second signing period -- for years the primary one -- the first week of February.
