With Colagiovanni sidelined, the Hurricanes turn to Milton

It’s always good to have a guy like Tarique Milton around.

The consensus best receiver in the area and arguably the best punt returner, Milton’s value is immeasurable.

With Manatee quarterback A.J. Colagiovanni sidelined after foot surgery in June, Milton is the guy behind center.

The Canes are hoping this a short-term solution and that Colagiovanni will be back for the season opener. But the rally call is “In Tarique we believe.”

Manatee head coach John Booth has confidence in Milton though he doesn’t like to break up one of the best pass-catch tandems in the state.

“You lost your best receiver by moving him, but on the other side you get the ball in your best playmaker’s hands so it kind of changes how we approach things,” Booth said. “Offensively, we are probably not going to throw it 25 times with him in there. We will be a little more run heavy. But he throws the ball well enough if we need to. Obviously, he is a dynamic playmaker, and we’ve got enough quarterback design runs already built into the offense for somebody with his ability.”

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Milton had no idea he would have a role change until he saw Colagiovanni walking with crutches on the last day of school.

“I was shocked. I said ‘what are you doing on crutches, don’t you know we have another season,’” Milton said. “I feel honored to be able to do this, and it’s a challenge to put the team on my back. A.J. has given me a lot of advice and I appreciate that.”

Manatee plays perennial state power Armwood in its preseason classic, so Milton is facing a challenge. Colagiovanni could be ready to play, but the Canes might keep him out as a precaution, giving his left foot more time to heal.

“It’s up for debate whether he plays (in the preseason game). We are going to see how he progresses,” Booth said. “The question we have to ask is if he is cleared to play the Wednesday before the kickoff classic is it worth rushing to put him in there. It might be better to let him sit and get him ready for Week 1. He is cleared to run and jog and do drops. The doctor who did the surgery said it looked like he had had been playing on a stress fracture for a couple of months that ended up splintering.”

Colagiovanni is the heart and soul of the Canes’ offense. As a junior, he threw for 2,568 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions and ran for 457 yards. Milton was Manatee’s leading receiver and punt returner.

“I had a stress fracture over the spring and didn’t know about it. I played on it and was told I had a cracked foot,” Colagiovanni said. “I was pretty shocked when I found out I needed surgery. It’s a bummer. I hope to be back for the preseason, but I definitely will be back for the season opener.”

Milton played some quarterback in his youth league days, but receiver is the position he is being heavily recruited to play in college.

“Running is most definitely what I am going to be doing if I play quarterback, like in a wildcat-type package. I am thankful for the help A.J. has given me, especially on how to read defenses before the snap,” Milton said.

Colagiovanni, who is limited to throwing and running straight now, can’t wait to get back on the field, but has faith in Milton.

“Tarique is doing a great job. He is an athlete who can make things happen on the field no matter where he is playing,” Colagiovanni said.

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Mark Napier has been named Florida’s girls track coach of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He previously was named Class 4A coach of the year by the Florida Dairy Farmers after leading the Lakewood Ranch girls to the Class 4A state title. Napier is eligible for the USTFCCCA’s national coach of the year, which will be announced later this month.

This story was originally published August 6, 2016 at 6:42 PM with the headline "With Colagiovanni sidelined, the Hurricanes turn to Milton."