Horizon football's Kaio Oliveira commits to Army

Horizon High rising senior Kaio Oliveira has announced his commitment to play college football at the United States Military Academy at West Point, choosing to play for the  

“After much prayer and consideration, I'm proud to announce my verbal commitment to play Division 1 Football at Army West Point!” Oliveira said in a post to his X. “I’d like to thank my mother, who has been on this journey with me and helped me become the best version of myself. I'd also like to thank all the coaches who have pushed me to become the athlete that I am today. Thank you, Coach Dixon and the Army Football staff, for giving me this amazing opportunity.”

Oliveira is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound do-it-all athlete for the Hawks, playing quarterback and running back in Horizon’s run-option offensive scheme and defensive back on the other side of the ball. 

“I can't say enough about him,” said Horizon coach Dennis Thomas. “I've been coaching a long time and he's one of the best young men I've ever been around, if not the best. He just does what he's supposed to do … he has some natural ability, but he works extremely hard on and off the field; he’s got a 4.0 GPA and is just a great human being. That’s why West Point and Navy wanted him, he's just that type of guy: A great leader.”

In the Hawks' spring game against Lake Buena Vista High, Oliveira showed just how dominant he can be by rushing for 200 yards with three touchdowns and passing for 115 yards and two more TDs.