10 Football Storylines of 2024: Riverside Is Ready

There isn’t may teams in Northeast Florida that are a as ready on paper as Riverside high school. Ready from their record last year in which they won their district and advanced to the playoffs with a 9-3 record. Ready from a coaching stand-point, as head coach Antwan Nicholas has steadily increased his win totals each year after taking over for long time coach O.J Small. Finally, Riverside is ready from a player stand point, as the team returns several seniors. It’s a recipe that’s ready for them to eat.

Only certain teams can say they have a senior signal caller with D-1 collegiate caliber talent. Quarterback Glenn Forman III is one of the most experienced starting quarterbacks in Northeast Florida. He started as a freshman at Bishop Snyder and has had that title ever since. The 6 foot2, 180 pound quarterback passed for 1,622yds and 21 TDs in 2023.

He’ll be throwing to 4-star senior tight end Tae’Shaun Gelsey who just recently committed to Florida. The 6 foot 4, 210 pound two sport athlete will have a monster year. There isn’t anyone that can stop him, and that bodes well for the General offense who can exploit matchups when teams bracket Gelsey.

One of those mismatch makers will be Myles Kendrick. Another senior, who is a 3-star rated wide receiver. With1,014 all purpose yards, and 11 total touchdowns in 2023, Kendrick showed his unique ability to stand out with an 100-yard pick-6 last year. Kendrick committed to Indiana.

The senior starters just keep coming. Shermon Davis (2025, 5’10, 190lbs RB), Anthony “Ant” Henry-(2025|DB), Richard Pooler Jr-(2025, 6’2, 16olbs), and Ivan Brown(6’2 | 208lb | LB, 2025) are just some that make up the most experienced team in Northeast Florida across the board.

Those top players in the area, and starters were just the seniors that the Generals have this year, but there are underclassmen that posses just as much talent. Zavier “Zay” Hilliard (2026, 6’3, 200lbs) is a 2 Sport Athlete in football and baseball, Hilliard received his first D-1 offer from USC. Derrick Bridges Jr is a 2026 wide receiver who scored in the spring game. He himself is 6 foot 1 inches tall.

Where Riverside might struggle is in the trenches, as the team lost key playmakers at the positions of offensive line and defensive line. They’ll have to keep their quarterback standing up, and on defense they must stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. However, today’s game is won with athletes, and Riverside comes ready made to beat anyone they face.

They showed this against Trinity and Ed White last year, wining games that many teams had them predicted to lose. The tables turn in 2024, as they will be favorites in most if not all of their games. They start with Oakleaf today, and if they truly are ready could end in December with a deep playoff run like previous years.

About the author

Andre' Ellis, Founder/ Lead Writer DuvalSports.com Florida Times Union All-City 1998,LB, Sandalwood Florida A&M Unv, BA , MBA