Rontravius Peacock is one of the best players from the Tampa, FL area in the Class of 2022.
The 5-foot-3, 103-pound Peacock, who attends Guinta Middle School, is a versatile defender that plays safety, linebacker and defensive end for the Tampa Bay Hurricanes organization.
Peacock has already earned plenty of accolades and recognition, such as the Most Outstanding Defensive End, the Turn Up award, and the Cinderella award.
Peacock is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his skills against some of the best of the best in his league.
“I got the job done to win those awards. I was able to achieve something and it was great. I turned up to keep my team going and i love that. I haven’t really done too many all-star events. I’m looking forward to participating in some my upcoming varsity year.”
No matter the opponent, on each snap Peacock is determined to give it his all.
Peacock is going all out.
The motor is always at full throttle whenever Peacock steps between the lines.
“My mindset at any position I play is to be the best and ahead of the game,” Peacock said. “I want to leave it all out between those lines every time I step on the field. I refuse to be outworked. My opponent will always have to work for everything they get.”
Peacock has great passion and energy whenever he’s on the gridiron. Peacock tells why he enjoys the game of football so much.
“I love defense, my coaches and the bond I get to build with my teammates, even some of our opponents,” Peacock said. “I made new brothers.”
Peacock has learned many valuable lessons from playing football that he applies to his everyday life.
The main one is applying perspective to all situations.
“Football has taught me so much,” Brannon said. “Playing football has taught how to become a man. I have to work for what I want. I can’t give up. My mom always tells me you’re something, so show up and take it. That makes me want to go hard.”
Peacock describes his favorite football moment.
“My favorite memory was my MM year, under Coach Desmond Pringley. I was the man. I was just making plays and dancing afterwards. Coach Dez would tell don’t worry about the flags,” Peacock said. “The refs would ask coach to meet me after the games, they all shook my hand.”
Don Draper has been coaching Peacock for one season with the Tampa Bay Hurricanes.
Draper explains the best parts of Peacock’s game.
“So Tre plays DB, linebacker and pretty much anywhere on the field that we needed him. But pretty much he was most dangerous at DB and linebacker,” Draper said. “He was one of the smallest on the team that we had but he was one of the most surest tacking linebackers that we had and one of the hardest hitters on the team. He was one of our best DBs.”
Peacock takes his role as one of the leaders on the team very seriously. Peacock makes sure he’s a daily positive influence on his peers.
“I lead by example. I come to practice no matter what, listen to coaches. redirect my peers and motivate my team,” Peacock said. “I tell them keep pushing and don’t stop fighting.”
Draper adds that Peacock is one of those consummate teammates that every locker room needs to be successful.
“So Tre has a great personality. He’s always upbeat. I rarely see him down,” Draper said. “As a matter of fact, he’s the dancer on the team. He’s that kid that gets the party started. He knows all the latest dance moves. He’s a showstopper. He’s that kid that gets everybody hype and loose. For me, Tre demonstrates leadership by listening and repeating back to me what I share with him. I used a wristband system and the first one went to Tre. He can absorb the information, break it down and share with the others.”
Peacock is appreciative of having amazing male role models that are supportive.
“My coaches have helped make me a better player and person,” Peacock said. “They tell me I haven’t done my best if I haven’t done all I can do.”
Draper recalls examples of Peacock’s capabilities.
“I know many people don’t like to say this but for me Tre was my favorite player,” Draper said. “He made the first big turnover of the season. We have a rivalry with the Greenwood Panthers. They came to Tampa to play in our jamboree. Tre got an interception and it was a big play for us. It set up our running back to go ahead and score. He set the tone for our defense, which was one of our shining stars.”
In addition to making clutch plays, Peacock also has a high level of football IQ as well.
Peacock has excellent football awareness that puts him in position to thrive.
“At free safety he’s a ballhawk. When the ball is in the air he’s definitely going to attack it. What’s cool about Tre is that he has an instinct to know where the ball is going to be left or right and get that jump. So his anticipating is his strength as a DB. As a linebacker, he’s a little guy that’s a thumper. He’s a car crash waiting to happen. He’ll give it to you. I was surprised at first. He was running around tattooing guys in drills when I first met him. It spoke to his big heart and determination.”
Peacock is always on the grind to perfect and hone his craft.
“I would like to see him compete against national-level talent. I’d like to see him go to a few more camps. I’d like to see him compete in some regional state camps so that he can see what else is out there and how he measures up,” Draper said. “I know steel sharpens steel and he’s a sharp kid. I’d actually like to see him start lifting even if it’s just some strength bands. It will do a lot for him. He’s not that massive but with more power in his engine he’d be a Mustang 5.0.”
Draper explains why Peacock reminds him of this legend.
“To me he resembles an Ed Reed,” Draper said. “Because he will lay the wood. He’s also a ballhawk. For me he was the captain of the defense. He was the guy that I ran plays through. So he was a guy that I would do my hand signals to and he would communicate to the rest of the team on defense what was happening.”
Draper outlines the next areas of improvement from Peacock.
“I would like to see him improve on his 40 time, broad jump and vertical leap,” Draper said. “Not because of anything wrong but because that’s what they’re looking at in high school. As a small kid if he has that going for him it will balance out his diminutive stature.”
Meanwhile, Peacock patterns his style of play after this late legend.
“I want to play like Sean Taylor,” Peacock said. “He made the opponents fear him and that’s what I want to do at my size. I want my opponents to take me seriously.”
Peacock lists his favorite subjects in school as science.
“I just like learning about chemicals, space, and reproduction,” Peacock said. “It catches my attention.”
Peacock is constantly striving for greatness.
“My goals on and off the field are to give it all I’ve got,” Peacock said. “To win and succeed in everything in my life.”
Peacock dreams of one day being the next great Florida Gator.
“I love watching them. It’s a great school. It’s been drilled in me by my dad Eric Hopson,” Peacock said. “My dad jokes that I can’t come back home if I’m not a Gator. I love defense and the Gators’ defense is always on point. They produce a lot of NFL players and I want my shot.”
Draper believes the sky is the limit as long as Peacock continues to stay hungry.
“I think Tre has the potential to get a full scholarship in football,” Draper said. “I would encourage him to run track and develop his speed. He’s a very smart kid so I think his intellect gives him an advantage. A lot of kids play on instinct and athleticism but I think Tre has the analytical mind to break down what’s happening even at the coaches level.”
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