By: J. Daniel Pearson
Photos by: Jaiden Acevedo
When a college football team produces a large number of NFL stars at a particular position, they often earn a nickname reflecting that. For example, Penn State is called “Linebacker U” and Louisiana State University is “DBU” or “Defensive Back University.”
If you want to go down one level, Osceola High School could easily be called “Running Back High,” given the immense amount of talent that has played that position there over the years. Names like – Willie Green Sr., Chicken Rivers, Willie Green Jr., Jermaine Boston, Stephon McCray, Ladarian Wilson, and Bubba Brown — come to mind.
Sometime near future – and hopefully 18 days from now during the 6A State Championship game at Pitbull Stadium in Miami — Osceola running back Taevion Swint will carry the ball for the last time as a Kowboy. When that moment comes, he will surely join the historical group listed above as one of the best to ever don the Gold and Blue.
“We’ve had so many great ones that have played here, there’s no way I could even start to do a Mt. Rushmore for Osceola running backs,” Coach Eric Pinellas said. “Maybe if we had a few more mountains it would be possible, but I will say this. Taevion Swint is one of the best ever to play here –period. In terms of being a football player, he has meant so much to this program. But he’s a better leader and person.”
Swint broke on to the scene as a freshman in 2021. Playing in a crowded backfield that included his older brother Ja’Randy (another candidate for the Osceola’s Mt. Rushmore with 3500 yards and 40 touchdowns in his career), Taevion managed to put up electrifying numbers with 612 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 85 carries as Osceola went 9-3 and made it to the regional semifinals.
When older brother graduated, Taevion became the featured back his sophomore year. He responded with a monster season with 1666 rushing yards, 22 total touchdowns in leading Osceola to a 10-4 mark, a regional championship and a spot in the 7A, Final Four. He averaged more than seven yards per carry and posted eight, 100-yard rushing games.
A preseason hamstring injury, an unfortunate death in the family and nagging injuries all season limited Swint to appearing in parts of just six games during his junior season. Although Osceola would still win a district title and advance to the playoffs, it was a disappointing year for the Kowboys as they lost their first five games (with Swint mostly out of action), finished with a losing record (4-7) and made a quick one-game exit from the playoffs.
Swint – when he was able to play – made the most of his opportunities. He still managed to record three 100-yard games, averaged over eight yards a carry (74-602) and scored three touchdowns. Still it was a low point in his Osceola career
“It sort of felt like a lost year,” Swint said. “Getting hurt in the preseason and missing the first quarter of the season was tough and when I got back I wasn’t really 100 percent all year. But even though there was some disappointment, I felt last year really set us up for a good season. We face a lot of adversity and it really matured this group.”
In that 2023 season, Osceola played a murderer’s row schedule that included nine games against eight playoff teams, including Treasure Coast (twice), Seminole, Jones, Lakeland, Rockledge, Daytona Beach Mainland, and West Orange. “Since I’ve been here, Coach P (Pinellas) flat out tells every year that we are going to play a brutal schedule,” Swint said. “But there’s a reason for it. He knows it will get us ready for the post-season. Last year toughened us up and we are seeing the results this year.”
Other than a minor shoulder injury in Week 2 against Lake Mary, Swint has been relatively healthy this year but Pinellas has still held his workload down with a “less is more” philosophy. Despite having almost 100 fewer carries, Swint has rushed for 1443 yards –reaching career highs in rushing touchdowns 22 and yards per carry 10.3.
“I wanted to keep him around 15 touches in the regular season,” Pinellas said. “I wasn’t too worried about injuries, as much as I was about keeping him fresh. Taevion has always had that ability to take it to the house on any play and by keeping him rested increases those chances.” Swint agreed. “With Elijah (Hickson) and Jeff Sinophat, we have three good backs in the game at one time and all of us are capable of the big play. The number of carries doesn’t bother me, as long as I make the most of them, it will be good for the team.”
Osceola (10-2) faces undefeated Armwood (12-0) on the road Friday night but Swint does not believe it will be the Kowboys final game of the year. “Tough road games are nothing new for us,” the senior said. “Of my four years, this is my favorite team, because we are truly a team. I would run through a wall for these guys and they would run through one for me.”
As for the future, Swint says he still intends to sign with UCF, after making a verbal commit there last spring. He says the ultimate goal is a pro career. Outside of football, he wants to eventually get into coaching and mentoring youth. “Preferably in Kissimmee,” Swint says. “An opportunity to give back to the city by working with youngsters really appeals to me.”
