JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At Riverside, football is all about teamwork, grit, and heart. For wide receiver Tae’shaun Gesley, those values were more than just words—they were a way of life.
“It all starts with the O-line,” Gesley said. “You gotta snap the ball, you gotta block, then you know, I got an unselfish position so I have to depend on them, gotta depend on the quarterback, gotta depend on my running back to block for my quarterback as well. I gotta depend on the running back to run the ball, to open things up for me.”
Gesley’s journey was shaped by Riverside’s culture, where hard work and overcoming challenges were part of the routine.
“Our work ethic here—it’s hard. It’s hard here, I ain’t gonna lie, but it’s all worth it,” Gesley said. “These coaches put us through all these challenges. We go through adversity every year, so the fact that we’re doing all this means we can go far in the playoffs and show all these young kids that anything is possible.”
Riverside head coach Antwan Nicholas witnessed Gesley’s growth not just as a player but also as a leader in the locker room.
“I’m excited for Tae’shaun. Wonderful, awesome talent, man. I can go on and on about his ability as well as how well-mannered and respectful he is as a person,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas added that Gesley had been instrumental in mentoring younger teammates.
“Just being a leader, motivating the younger guys, and showing them the blueprint for what they need to do to be successful—or to have that dream, like playing for Florida or Division I football,” Nicholas said.
As Gesley prepared to take the next step in his football career at the University of Florida, he said staying connected to his roots in Jacksonville would remain a priority—especially during the Florida-Georgia rivalry.
“That’s going to be crazy. I couldn’t even imagine it,” Gesley said. “Being from Jacksonville, you know I’m going to try my best to put on for the city, and to come back and do it is going to mean the world to me.”
No matter where football takes him, Gesley believes his foundation in teamwork and perseverance will continue to guide him both on and off the field.