Tamauri Collins has wasted little time establishing himself as a dual-threat force for the Tavares High School football team this season.

The senior running back has rushed for 578 yards on 78 carries and added 32 receiving yards, surpassing 600 total yards from scrimmage while scoring seven touchdowns.

His consistent production has given the Bulldogs a reliable weapon in the backfield and a leader who elevates those around him.

Tavares Head Football Coach Gavin Jones called Tamauri a dynamic player who has helped the team on both sides of the ball. “It’s been great to see him grow as a leader for us both on and off the field,” Jones says. “Hard work, determination and passion these three things are what push him to the level and success he has achieved. Having a guy like him helps out tremendously by having a player and person like him help set the standard for what we want in the program.”

Tamauri’s path to becoming a featured running back began early. He started playing football at age 8 after his brothers introduced him to the sport. Those early years laid the foundation for a career that has been defined by relationships and big moments in the end zone.

“Building relationships and scoring,” Tamauri says when asked about his favorite things about football. One memory stands above the rest. “Scoring five touchdowns,” he says of his favorite moment on the field.

Playing for Tavares High has been meaningful for the senior. “It’s a great opportunity,” Tamauri says. The lessons he has absorbed under Jones have shaped both his game and his approach to life. “Discipline,” Tamauri says when asked about the most valuable lesson his coach has taught him.

That emphasis on staying focused has stuck with him. When asked for the best piece of advice he has ever received, Tamauri did not hesitate. “To never get discouraged and push through adversity,” he says. It’s something that he has pushed younger players on the team to do as well and it’s had a profound impact as Tavares High is currently 3-1.

The Bulldogs are a very physical team that pounds the ball on the ground. It’s a very old school approach but that’s exactly what this team is built and designed for. The offensive line has been able to open gaps for Tamauri and others like fellow senior running back Ashtyn Gunn as the running back room has nearly 1,000 yards rushing. Meanwhile with all the success on the ground only 8 completions have been made this year for 137 yards.

Coach Gavin Jones, now in his 4th year as Tavares High’s head football coach, has revitalized the Tavares program, which went 0-10 in 2022. Since then, Jones has a record of 21-14, including a trip back to the FHSAA Playoffs in 2025.

When he’s not playing football, Tamauri keeps his circle close. He focuses on family and his goals. He pointed to his parents as his primary role models. “My dad and mom are my role models because they are able to make a lot happen,” he says, thankful for everything they’ve done for him over the years.

Academically, Tamauri already has a clear vision for the next chapter. He plans to attend college and study architecture while continuing his football career.

“I plan on attending college and hopefully going to play in the NFL,” he says. He currently holds an offer from Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, an NCAA Division II program, and continues to garner interest as the season progresses. With the way his season has started, college scouts should certainly be keeping their eyes on him.

Photos provided by Tavares High School and Gavin Jones