When Zander Erasmus came out for spring football practice at Tocoi Creek High School last year, it was the first time that new Toros head coach Zach Harbinson had met Erasmus and his teammates. Harbinson was getting to know the players, learning everyone’s strengths and how to best utilize them.
Erasmus had played for Tocoi Creek the two years prior to Harbinson arriving in the spring of 2023. Erasmus had played left tackle and some tight end, but had not yet really found a solid footing at either of the two positions, Harbinson said.
Erasmus was still somewhat new to the game, having recently arrived in the U.S. with his family from South Africa, so there was a bit of a learning curve.
“Zander had played rugby, but was still learning how to best fit in with us,” Harbinson said. “He couldn’t quite get a handle on run blocking at left tackle and at first was only fifth string. He was also having some issue with catching the football as a tight end.”
But the coach saw a lot of promise in Erasmus.
“We really needed another tight end, and Zander certainly had the requisite size,” Harbinson said. “He is about 6 foot 4 inches tall and weighs around 210 pounds, and I could see that he was a really good athlete.”
Harbinson said he also thought playing tight end would give Erasmus the best opportunity to play past high school, at the collegiate level, if that was something Erasmus wanted to eventually do.
The move turned out to be a good one for everyone involved.
“He went to work and made himself a lot better,” Harbinson said. “His willingness to get better and develop is there within him. He would always stay after practice and wanted to take stuff home and study the plays. He never would ask, ‘How did I do?’ but, ‘What can I do to get better?’”
By the end of that spring, Erasmus had beat out three returning seniors for the starting TE job.
“Zander made himself better to the point of becoming one of our best players,” Harbinson said about the same player who had struggled just weeks earlier to simply earn playing time.
Not only did Erasmus earn the starting tight end job, but he also became the team’s starting punter and even saw time on the defensive line.
Harbinson said that Erasmus finished as the area’s leading tight end in receptions with 25 catches for 273 yards last season. He also finished as the leading punter, averaging 37.5 yards per punt.
Erasmus is also a member of the Tocoi Creek track team, where he shot puts and throws discus.
He is also a center for the Jacksonville Wolverines U19 club rugby squad, who had a sensational season this year. They just played for the Florida Rugby state championship in Miami, where they lost to the Okapi Wanderers. The Wolverines finished 6-3 this season.
Harbinson said he’s looking forward to getting Erasmus back on his football field this year with the Tokoi Creek Toros and is expecting great things from the rising senior.
“Zander is going to be a leader for us statistically on both sides of the ball,” Harbinson said. “His effort and competitiveness is unmatched, and his numbers will showcase that.”
