Charlotte (FL) Fightin’ Tarpons enter new era under Cory Mentzer

PUNTA GORDA, FL – Just over seven months ago, the Charlotte Fightin’ Tarpons football program was one without a head coach.

After only two seasons of Wade Taylor (12-8 overall record) as the head coach, he stepped down in December, leaving Charlotte searching for its second head coach in three years. For a program that saw a ton of stability under longtime head coach Binky Waldrop, the Tarpons have looked a bit in disarray.

Bring in longtime assistant Cory Mentzer, who has served the last two seasons as the Tarpons’ defensive coordinator and an additional five on the school’s staff. If there’s anyone that knows Charlotte, it’s Mentzer, who is also an alum. A strong spring session has the new boss of the program seeing the Tarpons being tough to beat.

“Spring showed me that when we play as one and as a team, we will be tough to beat this year,” Mentzer said. “We have a lot of selfless players, and I’m very honored to coach such a wonderful group of men.”

Charlotte is coming off a 5-5 campaign and they were a team not hit hard with any major transfers, but also do not see their fair share of players coming in either. Mentzer said the school is considered a closed school by Charlotte County and creates a bit of disconnect with athletics having any potential new student athletes.

“Our county has us a ‘closed school’, so while it’s the Wild West all throughout the state with transfers you can’t come to Charlotte unless you live in our district,” Mentzer said. “How is that fair to us? Simple answer it’s not, but somehow our county manages to turn players away left and right who aren’t within our borders.”

This Charlotte team is littered with blue chip talent along with just good high school football players across the board. Brady Hall is back as the team’s most experienced wide receiver, after a 194-yard 2021 campaign. The club’s new starter at quarterback is junior Michael Valentino with Florida Atlantic commitment Brendan Chavarria being the offense’s top lineman. On defense, Cael Newton (Army, USF offers) returns at defensive end along with linebacker Connor Trim and Brayan Augustin, all three-year starters.

“I have an experienced group on defense,” Mentzer said. “Defense is led by Cael Newton, Connor Trim, and Brayan Augustin. All three year starters. We are a young group offensively, eight of eleven are all underclassmen, but I have a lot of talented players.

“I never like to set a goal about winning certain amount of games, but this team truly has the potential to be great. And if they come together as one, god could have a pretty incredible season in store for the Charlotte Tarpons.”

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.