October 29, 2026
With 4.4 Speed and 50 touchdowns, Tavares Senior Ta’Mauri Collins Blazes into the End Zone
By Cindy Peterson
With 4.4 Speed and 50 touchdowns, Tavares Senior Ta’Mauri Collins Blazes into the End Zone
Once Ta’Mauri Collins sees an opening, his mind starts racing.
Hit the gap and don’t get caught.
The Tavares High senior running back has the speed to make that plan work. Ta’Mauri has been clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, but he says speed alone isn’t what allows him to break away from defenders.
“A lot of what I do is vision,” Ta’Mauri says. “I’m really looking for where the defense is flowing to and which guys are gonna open up. You see the gap, you hit it, you don’t get caught.”
Football has been part of Ta’Mauri’s life since he was 8. He grew up watching his older brothers play and wanted to follow them onto the field, although his mother initially worried about letting him play.
He was hooked by the time she gave her approval.
Ta’Mauri began his high school career at Leesburg, getting varsity reps as a freshman while also spending time on junior varsity. He later moved to Tavares, where he developed into a productive running back.
Last season, he rushed for 1,478 yards, averaged 8.4 yards per carry,
scored 25 touchdowns – including a pair of 5-TD games – and earned second-team All-State honors. Through his first three games this season, he had five touchdowns, including one on a kickoff return.
In a high school career full of highlights, one run stands out: during his sophomore year, in his first start against Umatilla, Ta’Mauri broke loose for a touchdown of more than 60 yards.
“To be honest, I didn’t even really hear the crowd. I was in the moment trying to score.”
Ta’Mauri, who stands 5’ 8” and weighs 175 lbs., considers himself an undersized running back. That belief forced him to work harder.
Of course, not every carry results in touchdowns and cheers. Ta’Mauri has overcome obstacles.
This summer he dealt with rhabdomyolysis following dehydration and overexertion.
“I felt like that set me back a little bit,” he says. “But I’m back and working to get even better.”
Ta’Mauri has his sights set on college ball. He’s looking at Carson-Newman University. Ta’Mauri believes he’d be a good fit at the Division II school in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
After that, the NFL.
“When the gap opens and you get that run, there’s nothing like that feeling,” he says. “In that moment, you feel like you’re the best on the field. That feeling drives me to get better.”
Photos: Cindy Peterson and provided
Cindy serves as Executive Editor of Style Magazine and is a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography and video editing. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine’s Sports Hub Podcast and Style Podcast. Cindy also serves as a producer for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy enjoys traveling to national parks with her husband, Ryan, and son, David, while photographing wildlife — especially squirrels.
