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Southwest Florida high school football teams haven't had much luck winning state championships. But it hasn't been for a lack of talent.
That's what made selecting the top 25 offensive football players of the past 25 seasons such a challenge. To be eligible for this list, a player had to be on a Southwest Florida high school football team for at least one season between 2001 and 2025. Consideration was given not only to how they performed at the high school level but also to their college and, in some cases, professional football resumes.
Here are our selections, presented in alphabetical order.
Abrams was a prolific pass-catcher for the Tigers, finishing his career with 104 receptions for 1,533 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 576 yards and eight additional scores. As a redshirt freshman with the University of Florida in 2025, Abrams caught 13 passes for 201 yards in 10 games for the Gators.
Benkert played just two high school seasons in Southwest Florida, but made the most of them, passing for just over 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. He played at East Carolina before transferring to Virginia for his final two seasons. As a senior with the Cavaliers in 2017, he threw for a single-season record 3,207 yards and 25 touchdowns. He spent time with three NFL teams, appearing in one game for the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Bohanon starred at running back and linebacker for the Red Knights, leading the team in tackles as a junior and accumulating more than 1,500 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He played fullback at Wake Forest, rushing for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. Bohanon was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft and played five seasons, including two with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Byrd won the Broxson Trophy and News-Press Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2015. In addition to being a shutdown cornerback, he also led Naples with 38 receptions for 737 yards and nine touchdowns. Byrd if the Golden Eagles’ all-time receiving yards leader with 1,783 yards. Byrd played four seasons at Tennessee, finishing with 24 catches for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
The running back helped power the Golden Eagles to Southwest Florida’s first football state championship in 2001, rushing for an area-record and state-leading 2,814 yards and 33 touchdowns and winning the Broxson Award. Coleman is the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,892 yards. He went on to play running back and defensive back at Clemson, finishing with 1,357 total yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns, and 99 tackles and one interception.
Crawford finished his career at South as Lee County’s all-time leading passer, turning in a senior season in 2010 that saw him throw for 2,374 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading the Wolfpack to a 12-1 record and a state semifinal appearance. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns and intercepted nine passes that season, winning The News-Press Defensive Player of the Year honors for a second consecutive season. Crawford went on to play running back and safety at the University of Miami.
The explosive running back was The News-Press Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2006 after rushing for 2,148 yards and scoring 31 touchdowns. Devine still holds Lee County’s all-time career rushing record with 6,854 yards. At West Virginia, he was a three-year starter in the backfield and became the Mountaineers’ career all-purpose yardage leader with 5,761 yards. Devine ranks third among West Virginia’s career rushing leaders with 4,315 yards. He played professionally in the United Football and Canadian Football leagues.
The 6-foot-7 offensive tackle was a force with Lehigh as a senior in 2002, helping lead the team to an 8-3 record and its first-ever playoff appearance. Henderson was also a standout on the basketball court, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds for the district champion Lightning. At Florida State, Henderson played for legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, developing into a full-time starter as a senior. The Raiders selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he would go on to start 28 games over four seasons. Henderson died in 2020 at the age of 35.
Heuerman wasn’t much of a pass-catcher in high school – just 24 receptions for 572 yards and seven touchdowns in three years with the Cougars. However, his size (6-5, 240) and strength made him a force on both lines; he finished with 43 tackles on defense. Heuerman played at Ohio State, where he still didn’t catch many balls (52 receptions) but was good enough to get drafted in the third round by the NFL’s Denver Broncos in 2015. In four seasons, all in Denver, he caught 63 passes for 678 yards and five touchdowns.
The running back played two seasons with the Golden Eagles, helping them to a state championship in 2007 and winning Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2008 after rushing for 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns. At Ohio State, Hyde was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior after rushing for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Hyde in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played for five teams over eight seasons, finishing with 4,979 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.
Jackson had 133 receptions for 3,109 yards and 31 touchdowns at Immokalee and won the Broxson Trophy News-Press Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2013. He finished with 4,782 all-purpose yards to go with four interceptions and 103 tackles on defense. Jackson played 24 games over two seasons at Maryland, recording four interceptions. In 2018, he signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie. He played six seasons in the NFL and had 26 career interceptions, earning Pro Bowl honors with the Patriots in 2021.
The running back helped lead the Indians to a state championship in 2004, rushing for 1,656 yards and 25 touchdowns and being named The News-Press and Naples Daily News Offensive Player of the Year. At the University of Miami, James made the All-ACC Freshman team after rushing for 802 yards and four touchdowns. The Indianapolis Colts signed James as an undrafted free agent in 2010, and he played in 10 games, rushing for 112 yards and six touchdowns.
The running back rushed for 3,041 yards and 36 touchdowns in his varsity career while also accumulating 915 receiving and 393 return yards. At South Florida, Johnson finished as the Bulls’ all-time leader in all-purpose yards (4,1960), including 1,796 career rushing yards, and scored 29 touchdowns (16 rushing, 12 receiving, 1 punt return). Despite not being drafted in 2018, Johnson has played seven years in the NFL with four different teams, including a Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots last season. He has 1,014 career rushing yards and three touchdowns.
O’Connell did a little bit of everything at Gulf Coast, playing defensive back, receiver, linebacker, and quarterback, leading the Sharks in interceptions for three consecutive years. He played tight end at Miami (Ohio), earning three varsity letters while catching 46 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns. A seventh-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, O’Connell played four seasons with the Chiefs, finishing with 15 career receptions.
The 6-foot-3 wide receiver helped lead the Lions to the 2021 Class 1A state championship, catching 61 passes for 1,051 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was named the 2022 Southwest Florida Male Athlete of the Year. Patt-Henry finished his varsity career with 160 receptions for 3,068 yards and 40 touchdowns. At Clemson, where he was converted to tight end, he has 28 career receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons.
The 6-foot-4 wide receiver was named the 2026 Southwest Florida Offensive Player of the Year following a senior season that saw him catch 69 passes for 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns in just nine regular-season games. As a freshman, he was a part of First Baptist’s 2022 Class 1A state championship. Petit finished his career as Southwest Florida’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 3.696. He will play at Oklahoma this fall.
As a senior at Estero in 2001, Prater converted 56-of-58 extra-point attempts and made 14 field goals. He played four seasons at Central Florida, making a 53-yard field goal against Penn State in his first career game. Prater entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2006. A two-time Pro Bowler during his 19-year career, Prater holds NFL records for most career 50-yard field goals (83) and most extra points in a season (75 in 2013). He is currently 13th in NFL history in both field goals made (425) and career points (1,908).
In three seasons with the Golden Eagles, the explosive running back rushed for 3,966 yards (8.5 per carry) and 54 touchdowns. After beginning his collegiate career at North Carolina State, Raphael played at Cal last season and was named All-ACC Honorable Mention after rushing for 943 yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns, both career highs. He will play at Southern Methodist University this fall.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Schneider was a force on the Raiders’ offensive line, grading out at 85% with 47 pancake blocks as a senior in 2016. At Central Florida, he played in 49 games and was named first-team All-AAC in 2018 and 2020. He signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has played for seasons in the United Football League, winning a championship with the Birmingham Stallions in 2023.
Simeon posted back-to-back 2,000-plus rushing yards for the Golden Eagles, becoming the first back in Southwest Florida history to have two such campaigns. He was on the Broxson Award as a senior in 2024, rushing for 2,071 yards and 21 touchdowns while helping lead Naples to the final four. He finished his Golden Eagles’ career with 4,190 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. Simeon signed with Toledo and saw limited action as a freshman in 2025.
A two-time Offensive Player of the Year during his varsity career with the Vikings, Smith is Lee County’s all-time leader in career passing yards (8,740) and passing touchdowns (87). He also rushed for 2,620 yards and 45 additional scores. As a true freshman at Wisconsin in 2025, Smith played in four games, including three starts, and threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
As a senior at Dunbar in 2017, Thompkins caught 34 passes for 510 yards and seven touchdowns and had three interceptions as a defensive back, including one for a touchdown. He played four seasons at Utah State, recording 171 receptions for 2,519 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2021, he ranked second in the FBS with his 1,704 receiving yards, earning Associated Press third-team All-America honors in his final season. Thompkins signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and in four NFL seasons, including stints with Carolina and Atlanta, has caught 29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. He was recently signed by the Buffalo Bills.
As a senior in 2014, Walker was named the Offensive Player of the Year for both The News-Press and the Naples Daily News after rushing for 907 yards and 21 touchdowns, passing for 613 yards and seven scores, and catching four passes for 113 yards and two TDs. He played four seasons at Boston College and was named a second-team All-American as a senior after returning 40 kicks for 1,020 yards and 20 punts for 274 yards and a touchdown. In 2019, Walked signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent and played in seven games, catching two passes and returning 18 kickoffs for 411 yards.
As a senior, the 2010 News-Press Offensive Player of the Year had 54 receptions for 1,268 yards and 14 touchdowns as well as 266 rushing yards and three scores. Watkins ended his career as Lee County’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,987) and receiving touchdowns (36). He went on to become an All-American at Clemson and a starting receiver in the NFL for nine seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
The bruising running back played four seasons with the Lightning, finishing with 4,693 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. In 2022, he was named the Southwest Florida Offensive Player of the Year after a junior season that saw him rush for 1,755 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging nine yards per carry. Young started his collegiate career at Alabama, where he rushed for 234 yards and five touchdowns before transferring to Colorado following the 2025 season.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Best SWFL offensive football players of the past 25 seasons
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That's what made selecting the top 25 offensive football players of the past 25 seasons such a challenge. To be eligible for this list, a player had to be on a Southwest Florida high school football team for at least one season between 2001 and 2025. Consideration was given not only to how they performed at the high school level but also to their college and, in some cases, professional football resumes.
Here are our selections, presented in alphabetical order.
TJ Abrams, Dunbar
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Abrams was a prolific pass-catcher for the Tigers, finishing his career with 104 receptions for 1,533 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 576 yards and eight additional scores. As a redshirt freshman with the University of Florida in 2025, Abrams caught 13 passes for 201 yards in 10 games for the Gators.
Kurt Benkert, Cape Coral/Island Coast
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Benkert played just two high school seasons in Southwest Florida, but made the most of them, passing for just over 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. He played at East Carolina before transferring to Virginia for his final two seasons. As a senior with the Cavaliers in 2017, he threw for a single-season record 3,207 yards and 25 touchdowns. He spent time with three NFL teams, appearing in one game for the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Tommy Bohanon, North Fort Myers
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Bohanon starred at running back and linebacker for the Red Knights, leading the team in tackles as a junior and accumulating more than 1,500 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He played fullback at Wake Forest, rushing for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. Bohanon was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft and played five seasons, including two with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tyler Byrd, Naples
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Byrd won the Broxson Trophy and News-Press Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2015. In addition to being a shutdown cornerback, he also led Naples with 38 receptions for 737 yards and nine touchdowns. Byrd if the Golden Eagles’ all-time receiving yards leader with 1,783 yards. Byrd played four seasons at Tennessee, finishing with 24 catches for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
Duane Coleman, Naples
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The running back helped power the Golden Eagles to Southwest Florida’s first football state championship in 2001, rushing for an area-record and state-leading 2,814 yards and 33 touchdowns and winning the Broxson Award. Coleman is the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,892 yards. He went on to play running back and defensive back at Clemson, finishing with 1,357 total yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns, and 99 tackles and one interception.
Dallas Crawford, South Fort Myers
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Crawford finished his career at South as Lee County’s all-time leading passer, turning in a senior season in 2010 that saw him throw for 2,374 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading the Wolfpack to a 12-1 record and a state semifinal appearance. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns and intercepted nine passes that season, winning The News-Press Defensive Player of the Year honors for a second consecutive season. Crawford went on to play running back and safety at the University of Miami.
Noel Devine, North Fort Myers
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The explosive running back was The News-Press Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2006 after rushing for 2,148 yards and scoring 31 touchdowns. Devine still holds Lee County’s all-time career rushing record with 6,854 yards. At West Virginia, he was a three-year starter in the backfield and became the Mountaineers’ career all-purpose yardage leader with 5,761 yards. Devine ranks third among West Virginia’s career rushing leaders with 4,315 yards. He played professionally in the United Football and Canadian Football leagues.
Mario Henderson, Bishop Verot/Lehigh
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The 6-foot-7 offensive tackle was a force with Lehigh as a senior in 2002, helping lead the team to an 8-3 record and its first-ever playoff appearance. Henderson was also a standout on the basketball court, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds for the district champion Lightning. At Florida State, Henderson played for legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, developing into a full-time starter as a senior. The Raiders selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he would go on to start 28 games over four seasons. Henderson died in 2020 at the age of 35.
Jeff Heuerman, Barron Collier
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Heuerman wasn’t much of a pass-catcher in high school – just 24 receptions for 572 yards and seven touchdowns in three years with the Cougars. However, his size (6-5, 240) and strength made him a force on both lines; he finished with 43 tackles on defense. Heuerman played at Ohio State, where he still didn’t catch many balls (52 receptions) but was good enough to get drafted in the third round by the NFL’s Denver Broncos in 2015. In four seasons, all in Denver, he caught 63 passes for 678 yards and five touchdowns.
Carlos Hyde, Naples
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The running back played two seasons with the Golden Eagles, helping them to a state championship in 2007 and winning Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2008 after rushing for 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns. At Ohio State, Hyde was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior after rushing for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Hyde in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played for five teams over eight seasons, finishing with 4,979 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.
JC Jackson, Immokalee
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Jackson had 133 receptions for 3,109 yards and 31 touchdowns at Immokalee and won the Broxson Trophy News-Press Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2013. He finished with 4,782 all-purpose yards to go with four interceptions and 103 tackles on defense. Jackson played 24 games over two seasons at Maryland, recording four interceptions. In 2018, he signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie. He played six seasons in the NFL and had 26 career interceptions, earning Pro Bowl honors with the Patriots in 2021.
Javarris James, Immokalee
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The running back helped lead the Indians to a state championship in 2004, rushing for 1,656 yards and 25 touchdowns and being named The News-Press and Naples Daily News Offensive Player of the Year. At the University of Miami, James made the All-ACC Freshman team after rushing for 802 yards and four touchdowns. The Indianapolis Colts signed James as an undrafted free agent in 2010, and he played in 10 games, rushing for 112 yards and six touchdowns.
D’Ernest Johnson, Immokalee
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The running back rushed for 3,041 yards and 36 touchdowns in his varsity career while also accumulating 915 receiving and 393 return yards. At South Florida, Johnson finished as the Bulls’ all-time leader in all-purpose yards (4,1960), including 1,796 career rushing yards, and scored 29 touchdowns (16 rushing, 12 receiving, 1 punt return). Despite not being drafted in 2018, Johnson has played seven years in the NFL with four different teams, including a Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots last season. He has 1,014 career rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Jake O’Connell, Gulf Coast
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O’Connell did a little bit of everything at Gulf Coast, playing defensive back, receiver, linebacker, and quarterback, leading the Sharks in interceptions for three consecutive years. He played tight end at Miami (Ohio), earning three varsity letters while catching 46 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns. A seventh-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, O’Connell played four seasons with the Chiefs, finishing with 15 career receptions.
Olsen Patt-Henry, First Baptist
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The 6-foot-3 wide receiver helped lead the Lions to the 2021 Class 1A state championship, catching 61 passes for 1,051 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was named the 2022 Southwest Florida Male Athlete of the Year. Patt-Henry finished his varsity career with 160 receptions for 3,068 yards and 40 touchdowns. At Clemson, where he was converted to tight end, he has 28 career receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons.
Jayden Petit, First Baptist/St. John Neumann
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The 6-foot-4 wide receiver was named the 2026 Southwest Florida Offensive Player of the Year following a senior season that saw him catch 69 passes for 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns in just nine regular-season games. As a freshman, he was a part of First Baptist’s 2022 Class 1A state championship. Petit finished his career as Southwest Florida’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 3.696. He will play at Oklahoma this fall.
Matt Prater, Cypress Lake/Estero
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As a senior at Estero in 2001, Prater converted 56-of-58 extra-point attempts and made 14 field goals. He played four seasons at Central Florida, making a 53-yard field goal against Penn State in his first career game. Prater entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2006. A two-time Pro Bowler during his 19-year career, Prater holds NFL records for most career 50-yard field goals (83) and most extra points in a season (75 in 2013). He is currently 13th in NFL history in both field goals made (425) and career points (1,908).
Kendrick Raphael, Naples
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In three seasons with the Golden Eagles, the explosive running back rushed for 3,966 yards (8.5 per carry) and 54 touchdowns. After beginning his collegiate career at North Carolina State, Raphael played at Cal last season and was named All-ACC Honorable Mention after rushing for 943 yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns, both career highs. He will play at Southern Methodist University this fall.
Cole Schneider, Riverdale
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Schneider was a force on the Raiders’ offensive line, grading out at 85% with 47 pancake blocks as a senior in 2016. At Central Florida, he played in 49 games and was named first-team All-AAC in 2018 and 2020. He signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has played for seasons in the United Football League, winning a championship with the Birmingham Stallions in 2023.
Shawn Simeon, Barron Collier/Naples
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Simeon posted back-to-back 2,000-plus rushing yards for the Golden Eagles, becoming the first back in Southwest Florida history to have two such campaigns. He was on the Broxson Award as a senior in 2024, rushing for 2,071 yards and 21 touchdowns while helping lead Naples to the final four. He finished his Golden Eagles’ career with 4,190 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. Simeon signed with Toledo and saw limited action as a freshman in 2025.
Carter Smith, Bishop Verot
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A two-time Offensive Player of the Year during his varsity career with the Vikings, Smith is Lee County’s all-time leader in career passing yards (8,740) and passing touchdowns (87). He also rushed for 2,620 yards and 45 additional scores. As a true freshman at Wisconsin in 2025, Smith played in four games, including three starts, and threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
Deven Thompkins, Island Coast/Bishop Verot/Dunbar
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As a senior at Dunbar in 2017, Thompkins caught 34 passes for 510 yards and seven touchdowns and had three interceptions as a defensive back, including one for a touchdown. He played four seasons at Utah State, recording 171 receptions for 2,519 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2021, he ranked second in the FBS with his 1,704 receiving yards, earning Associated Press third-team All-America honors in his final season. Thompkins signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and in four NFL seasons, including stints with Carolina and Atlanta, has caught 29 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. He was recently signed by the Buffalo Bills.
Michael Walker, Naples
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As a senior in 2014, Walker was named the Offensive Player of the Year for both The News-Press and the Naples Daily News after rushing for 907 yards and 21 touchdowns, passing for 613 yards and seven scores, and catching four passes for 113 yards and two TDs. He played four seasons at Boston College and was named a second-team All-American as a senior after returning 40 kicks for 1,020 yards and 20 punts for 274 yards and a touchdown. In 2019, Walked signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent and played in seven games, catching two passes and returning 18 kickoffs for 411 yards.
Sammy Watkins, South Fort Myers
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As a senior, the 2010 News-Press Offensive Player of the Year had 54 receptions for 1,268 yards and 14 touchdowns as well as 266 rushing yards and three scores. Watkins ended his career as Lee County’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,987) and receiving touchdowns (36). He went on to become an All-American at Clemson and a starting receiver in the NFL for nine seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Richard Young, Lehigh
The bruising running back played four seasons with the Lightning, finishing with 4,693 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. In 2022, he was named the Southwest Florida Offensive Player of the Year after a junior season that saw him rush for 1,755 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging nine yards per carry. Young started his collegiate career at Alabama, where he rushed for 234 yards and five touchdowns before transferring to Colorado following the 2025 season.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Best SWFL offensive football players of the past 25 seasons
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