The Big 15: Laser Focused
About the Series: The Big 15 is the annual list of top Southwest Florida college football recruits selected by The News-Press and Naples Daily News. The players selected are from Lee and Collier counties and are ranked based on hard scholarship offers, the level of the schools making the offers, and those who possess the potential to receive attention from Power Four programs.
This year’s theme of “Laser Focused” represents The Big 15 athletes’ play on the field, as well as on achieving their goal to play in college and of course their work in front of our cameras. To capture their portraits, we posed each athlete in front of a laser projector, with small speed lights on tripods on both sides and a smoke machine. We’d like to thank Fort Myers High and Community School of Naples for providing us with space in their facilities to take the photos.
No. 15 Cole Cooke
Position: Offensive tackle
School: Riverdale
Rating: 3-star (247Sports, On3), NR (ESPN, Rivals). Ranked as the 93rd-best offensive tackle in the 2025 class by On3.
Commitment: FAU
Best Offers: UCF, Western Kentucky, FAU
Measurables: 6-8, 315 pounds
Grade: Senior
Cooke makes his second appearance in The Big 15, having been No. 14 last year, and only started playing football as a freshman, but his size and increased strength help him stand out along the Riverdale line. Last season he helped make the Raiders one of the best rushing attacks in the state. As a team, Riverdale went for 2,579 rushing touchdowns and 20 rushing scores.
Cooke, who committed to Florida Atlantic in June, also played on the defensive line and made 21 tackles (15 solo), five TFLs, and a sack in 2023.
Question: What makes you one of the best college football prospects in Southwest Florida?
It’s my size and aggression towards the game.
What are you looking for in a college and is that why you chose FAU?
Just everybody that bonded together and had a great family-orientated team and hustled.
They had what I was looking for in college, they had exactly that family-orientated team and all that. The coaches are always talking to me, and they always have the best for me.
What has your recruiting process been like?
It’s been long and slow, but it’s just been a fun thing to go through.
What’s the football journey been like for you up to this point?
It’s been crazy because I only started football in freshman year. So it’s like, everything’s happened so fast, but it’s a great journey.
What part of your game has improved the most since last season?
Definitely like the bend and footwork, getting low and all that. I’ve been doing footwork training at home, doing ladders and all that.
What’s the game you have circled on the schedule?
There’s a couple but I think Fort Myers would be a great game to have a good win over. Just we’ve always had a rivalry with them, but it’s just like, we just don’t like them.
What’s your outlook for Riverdale this season?
Summer workouts have been really good for us. We have a lot of potential, a lot of young people, a lot of good talent on the team. So I mean, a bunch of returners are coming back that were young. They learned a bunch last year and now it’s gonna show it this year.
No. 14 Madrid Tucker
Position: Athlete
School: Fort Myers
Rating: 3-star (Rivals), NR (247Sports, ESPN, On3)
Commitment: None
Best Offers: Pitt, USF, UCF, Navy
Measurables: 5-11, 160 pounds
Grade: Senior
To watch Tucker play ball – whether that’s football or baseball – is to know what kind of electric playmaker he has been for the Green Wave. The son of former MLB player Michael Tucker is seeking to continue to play both sports at the next level.
Tucker’s undeniable athleticism, confidence, and big-play ability secured a second consecutive appearance on the Big 15. Last season, he piled up more than 1,100 all-purpose yards with 17 touchdowns while locking down opposing receivers on defense.
What makes you one of the best prospects in Southwest Florida?
Not to sound cocky, but I have a lot of confidence. So kind of self-explanatory, but you get the ball in my hands, I’m going to do the best I can to score. You got to put your best DB on me, and on the defensive side, I’m going to be on your best wide receiver, one way or another.
What are you looking for in a college?
A place I can call home, a place that’s more than just sports. It’s more like a life and sports, like I can come to you if I’m having a bad day, I can have a real talk with the coach – not just football, more like a family.
What has the recruiting process been like?
It was really picking up during the spring. I got a lot of contacts, got more information. Then, as the summer went on it kind of slowed down because that’s when I transition to baseball, so it’s like they kind of don’t know which one I’m going for right now, so it kind of slowed down a little bit.
How do you balance your plans to play both sports at the next level?
Personally, for me, it’s easy because I know I want to definitely play both in college, but for coaches it’s kind of weird because they don’t know which one I’m going to pick so they’re kind of iffy about if they should go for me or if they shouldn’t.
How would you describe your journey in football?
Football’s definitely my first love. Everybody knows my dad played in the MLB, so they always think ‘Oh, you’re just going to be a baseball player,’ but my first love was definitely football right when I got into it. I have an older brother (Milan), so he kind of pushed me. My goal was definitely be better than him before I even started playing football, like ‘I’m just going to be better than you.’ That’s what I’ve been working for.
What has been the highlight of your high school career so far?
Probably my “touchdown” as we should say against Dunbar. It’s controversial, but that’s definitely my highlight for sure.
What area of your game has improved the most since last season?
I feel like my route running and my footwork. That’s definitely what I’ve been working on because I know I’m not going to be the biggest person out there. I know I’m not going to be the eye-catcher, so I just got to work on the little things that separate me from everybody else.
What is your goal for the upcoming season?
My goal is to go for 1,500 all-purpose. That’s the goal. I know I can get the rushing because we run the ball a little bit more than most teams do, and the receiving side, as long as I get the ball in my hands, I’m going to go make a play.
What game do you have circled on the schedule?
Definitely Dunbar, it’s always a game you got to circle. I feel like Naples is on there too because Naples is a big school. That’s a big game, but Dunbar’s definitely No. 1 for sure. I can’t leave high school without beating Dunbar at least one time.
No. 13 Laz Rogers
Position: Running back
School: East Lee County
Rating: 3-star (247Sports), NR (ESPN, On3, Rivals). Ranked as the 127th best running back in the 2025 class by 247Sports.
Commitment: Northern Illinois
Best Offers: USF, Coastal Carolina
Measurables: 5-10, 190 pounds
Grade: Senior
Laz Rogers is ready for an encore.
The speedy tailback rewrote the East Lee County record books last season and in the process helped power the Jaguars to their first .500 season since 2016.
Rogers eclipsed the 100-yard mark in nine of East Lee’s 10 games and set single-season school marks for rushing yards (1,515), rushing touchdowns (18), and total touchdowns (19). The standout performance earned him the No. 13 spot on The News-Press/Naples Daily News Big 15 list, his debut appearance.
What makes you one of the best players in Southwest Florida?
I feel like my speed, my strength and just, I mean if you watch the film the stats don’t lie. It’s different from other athletes around the area in Lee County and Collier County.
What do defenders have to deal with when going up against you?
My whole high school career, I feel like I haven’t taken too many hits, like a very hard hit. Now they have to watch out for my speed because I had a very good season in track … I already had the strength, now they have to watch out for my speed as well.
Tell me a little bit about your college decision.
The reason why I committed to Northern Illinois is because they took a chance on me. I was committed to Coastal Carolina but nobody knew that, but I felt like I didn’t have a bond with the running backs coach at Coastal as much as I have with Northern Illinois. They made it feel like home for me.
How would you describe your football journey to this point?
It was very difficult because the recruiting process can get very frustrating and confusing for all of us young athletes. Because, you know, one minute a coach likes you, the next minute he’s saying that you need to work on certain things. So it’s kind of difficult, but it’s been a very good process for me. I’m just thankful that I know where I’m going to play at the next level.
What goals do you have for yourself for the upcoming season?
To break my rushing record and to break the rushing touchdowns record and get over 20 rushing touchdowns.
No. 12 Darrion Jones
Position: Safety
School: Cape Coral High School
Ranking: 3-star (247Sports, Rivals), NR (ESPN, On3). Ranked as the 109th best senior safety in the nation by 247Sports.
Commitment: Kansas
Best Offers: Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Toledo
Measurables: 6-2, 175 pounds
Grade: Senior
The Kansas Jayhawks found a ball hawk in Darrion Jones. At Cape Coral last season Jones racked up 34 tackles (4 TFL), 3 INT, a PBU, and a sack in 8 games last season.
What makes you one of the best college football recruits in Southwest Florida?
My aggressiveness, my feet, and my technique. I just got really good technique. So I feel like nobody’s doing it better than me.
Tell us about your college decision. What were you looking for and why Kansas?
I’m just ready to get in a playbook, I’m ready to work. I just want to work. I’m actually really glad to put (the recruiting process) behind me. I just want to be prepared for whatever is coming.
What has been the highlight of your high school career?
Just playing with my teammates and new people, and the new coaching staff. I love our coaching staff that we have and I’m just ready to build great relationships with the whole team and the new freshmen. You know, just ready to work.
What part of your game do you think has improved the most since last season?
My technique for sure. All I have been actually working on is my techniques, I really feel that has gotten better.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
To get interceptions and to lead the area in interceptions.
No. 11 Jayce Cora
Position: Reciever
School: Community School of Naples
Ranking: 3-star (247Sports, ESPN, On3), NR (Rivals). Ranked as the 34th best athlete in the nation by On3.
Commitment: None
Best Offers: FIU, Louisville, Notre Dame, West Virginia
Measurables: 6-3, 175 pounds
Grade: Senior
After being limited to four games last season due to an injury, Jayce Cora could be poised for a bounce-back senior year playing receiver and safety.
As a sophomore at Lely, he lined up primarily on defense. In 2022, he had 25 tackles, four interceptions and four pass breakups on defense. He also caught six passes for 102 yards. A transfer to CSN, Cora could prove to be a valuable member of the Seahawks wide receiver group.
What makes you one of the best players in Southwest Florida?
I think a bunch of things separate me. I think I’m very physical on the field, like I let my presence be known when I’m out there playing, I can take on a leadership role. And I can help build up the morality of all my teammates. And then just like looking at my teammates are all around me, just being surrounded by some of the other best guys that helped me perform and shine, better.
What are you looking for in a college?
I want to look for a school that’s going to help better prepare me for, you know, not only football, but outside of football, you know, all doesn’t go to plan. I still want a great education and then something that can set me up as for my life and my future.
What has the recruiting process been like for you?
I moved down to Florida from Massachusetts during my sophomore year. And then after my sophomore year, I kind of just blew up, you know, like a kid coming from a small town, no looks, nothing. And now I’m like, one of the top recruits in the area. So It’s pretty much everything I’ve dreamed of as a little kid.
What has been the highlight of your high school career?
I think, my first offer, so I got that my sophomore year. I was like ‘Wow. I really made it.’ This is everything that I hoped for and dreamed of and now it’s all coming together. It was just a surreal feeling.
What part of your game has improved the most this offseason?
My route running and just my quickness, like getting off the ball first and all that. I’m working with Ed Gant, who’s our new receiver coach at CSN. He’s like one of the best in the area, and he’s really going to take my game to the next level.
Is there a game on the schedule that you have circled?
First Baptist Academy. I know the history between the school and FBA. The schools never beaten FBA. And I think it’s been like 12 years or something. But I think this year we have a shot. We have a bunch of different guys coming in and the teams coming together. And I think we’re definitely gonna give them a run for it this year.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Top SW FL college football prospects for 2024 high school season. Here’s No. 11-15
