VIDEO: Cocoa Tigers Center Josh Padrick Hunts More Than Defensive Lineman, Hauls In Huge Gator

By Alan Zlotorzynski, Assistant Editor // July 12, 2017

Tiger loves to hunt Gators, other florida wildlife

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Alan Zlotorzynski visits Central Florida Trophy Hunts in Cocoa to speak with Josh Padrick of the Cocoa Tigers about his off the field job and the upcoming season

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Most guys Josh Padrick’s age are spending the remaining school less days of summer waiting for Madden 18 to hit the store shelf, or perhaps checking out the newest Spider Man movie for the third or fourth time.

Not Padrick.

Padrick, an incoming senior at Cocoa high school and starting center for the defending Class 4A state football champs, spends his days and evenings hunting some of Florida’s most sought-after animals on land and in the waterways surrounding Brevard County and beyond.

On Monday, Padrick Tweeted out a photo of himself standing next to a 12-and-a-half-foot alligator that opened many eyes, especially mine and I reached out to Josh to find out the circumstances surrounding his catch.

Josh’s parents, Grayson and Mindy Padrick, own and operate Central Florida Trophy Hunts located in Cocoa and Josh, when he’s not protecting quarterbacks or opening holes for Tiger running backs, helps with the business.

Yesterday’s catch was for clients that flew in for the sole purpose of catching a big alligator and they were not disappointed.

In fact, the clients were so happy, they booked another hunt for today to harvest a few of Florida’s wild hogs, which Josh will also participate in.

“I’ve been doing this since I was a little kid and I love it,” said Padrick.

Padrick is not only adept at catching gators, he was named starting center on the Space Coast Daily–Friday Night Locker Room offensive line, 4A First Team all-state, Second team all Florida and first team all-county.

He carries a 3.85 G.P.A. and last season anchored a line that helped the Tigers rush for over 4,000 yards as a team.

All three Cocoa ball carriers rushed for over 100 yards in the state title game, a 31-17 thrashing of Bolles Jacksonville.

Running the football like that can only be done if the guys up front are blocking and Padrick leads the charge for Cocoa.

ABOVE VIDEO: Cocoa Tigers Josh Padrick speaks with Steve Wilson following the Tiger’s win in the state title game.

Josh is a hard working young man that does what is asked of him on and off the football field. He is an example of what we all want in our young men and women in the world today.

The physical and mental strain of hunting animals such as alligators helps Josh on the football field.

“There is definitely a tie-in. I’m out in the heat all day and alligators aren’t light,” said Padrick.

When I asked him how Tigers head coach John Wilkinson feels about his off the field activities, his reply, “Coach loves it.”

Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily, Josh has invited us along to check out some of his adventures and we won’t miss it.

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