Central football ready for fresh start under ex-NFL vet with some of county’s top talents

Otis Guyton was livid.

So were his teammates on the Central football team after the Rockets were forced to forfeit all their 2024 wins due to the use of an ineligible player. An 8-1 record became 0-9 in an instant, and the Rockets missed the playoffs.

“I was angry, sad, shocked, disappointed,” Guyton said. “It was a run of emotions that hit me all at once.

“To this day, I’m still not over the feeling that last season was stolen from us.”

Fortunately for the Rockets, a new season is just around the proverbial corner. Monday is the first day of fall practices for Florida high schools, and a lot has changed at Central.

For starters, the Rockets have a new coach – former NFL safety Derrick Gibson.

Secondly, there are just five starters returning, including Guyton, who is a senior defensive end.

The other returning starters are also seniors: quarterback Anthony McQueen; running back Jayden Ford; left tackle Jamarian Wilson; and outside linebacker Karon Maycock.

Gibson has impressive credentials.

In his younger days, Gibson played for Killian High, Florida State University and in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

At Florida State, Gibson was a first-team All-ACC player, and he helped the Seminoles reach three national championship games, winning the title in 1999.

With the Raiders, Gibson was their first-round selection in 2001 at pick No. 28. He had a five-year NFL career, intercepting three passes.

As a coach, Gibson served as Central’s defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2018.

Gibson was there for five Central state titles, including its first-ever championship in 2010 under head coach Telly Lockette.

“We put down building bricks from Day One,” Gibson said. “We planted the seeds and watched them grow.”

After Central, Gibson returned to his alma mater, leading Killian to a three-year record of 26-7. Gibson inherited a 3-7 team and went 9-3 in his first year at Killian.

Then, after the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Gibson led the Cougars to a 12-2 record in 2021.

Those two Gibson teams lost in the regional playoffs to the eventual state champ – Northwestern in 2019 and, ironically, Central in 2021.

After Killian, served as a safeties coach at Florida Atlantic University. But when Tom Herman was fired during the 2024 season, Gibson decided to return to coaching high school football.

Gibson said he could’ve chased another college job. But he signed on with Central in February for two main reasons.

First, Gibson just got married to Shanquan, and his daughter, Zahara, is a freshman at Northwestern High.

Secondly, Gibson has a strong desire to give back.

“If it weren’t for my high school coach, Sam Miller, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Gibson said. “He gave me the opportunity to play college ball and in NFL.

“I see myself in all the kids at Central, and I want to help them reach their dreams and aspirations.”

Some of the current Rockets players are indeed reaching their goals, and that includes Maycock, a 6-1 and 205-pound senior who has committed to FSU.

“When I was at FAU, I offered (Maycock) a scholarship as a safety,” Gibson said. “Now he’s a linebacker, but he can still run like a deer.

“If you turn on the tape, he’s the one making all the tackles.”

Central’s other defensive star is Guyton, who has offers from Western Kentucky, Liberty and FAMU.

Guyton, who. has a 4.0 grade-point average, wants to major in Marketing and minor in Finance.

On the field, Guyton is a terror with 16 sacks last season.

“He has the best get-off I’ve seen in a long time,” Gibson said of Guyton’s explosive play at the line of scrimmage.

On offense, Ford is an FIU recruit despite his small stature (5-5, 160 pounds).

“Just get him the ball,” Gibson said of Ford, who scored nine touchdowns last season.

At quarterback, McQueen last year completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,524 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions.

“He plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Gibson said of McQueen, who has offers from Bethune-Cookman and Florida Memorial.

Finally, there’s senior wide receiver Brandon Kinsey, who has committed to Purdue.

“There no secret,” Gibson said. “When we’re in the red zone, Brandon is getting the ball.”

Gibson said he is pleased with how his team looked this past spring.

The Rockets will play an exhibition game at Ocala Vanguard on August 15. After that, Central will start the regular season on August 23 at Jacksonville Raines.

“Our players can’t wait to get back on the field after their season was taken away from them (in 2024),” Gibson said. “It was just one individual (that was ineligible). The rest of our kids had nothing to do with that.”

Guyton said he has no doubt Central would’ve won another state title had they been eligible last year.

This season, the expectations outside the program are much lower.

“A lot of people are doubting us – young team, new coach,” Guyton said. “But we’re excited to prove everyone wrong.”