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 defensive 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.
Spencer Adkins, Naples
A three-year varsity starter at linebacker and defensive end, Adkins won the Broxson Award as a senior in 2004 after tallying 72 tackles and 11 sacks. He went on to play 31 games at the University of Miami and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Adkins played 24 games over three seasons with Atlanta, recording 15 tackles and contributing on special teams.
Mackensie Alexander, Immokalee
The defensive back had 10 interceptions during his time at Immokalee and helped the Indians reach the Class 5A state championship game as a senior in 2012. Alexander was a Freshman All-American at Clemson University and in two seasons with the Tigers, recorded 44 tackles, 11 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. A second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, Alexander played seven seasons in the NFL, finishing with 202 tackles and one interception.
Markihe Anderson, Dunbar
Anderson was a two-way star for the Tigers as a senior in 2005, catching 26 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for 288 yards and two more scores. At defensive back, he had 49 tackles, one interception, and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Anderson played four years at the University of Florida, where he was part of former coach Urban Meyer’s two national championship teams in 2006 and 2008. He was inducted into the Lee County Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2025.
Nate Allen, Cape Coral
Allen played quarterback during his high school career with the Seahawks, passing for more than 5,000 yards. At the University of South Florida, he started the final 39 games of his collegiate career in the defensive secondary, finishing his career with 224 tackles and nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries and three touchdowns, A second-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, Allen played eight years in the NFL, including stints with the Raiders and Dolphins.
Tre Boston, North Fort Myers
Boston was a News-Press first-team defensive player in his final two seasons at North Fort Myers, intercepting 10 total passes, while also leading the Red Knights in receiving yards as a junior and rushing yards as a senior. At North Carolina, the safety appeared in 48 games, recording 282 career tackles and 12 interceptions. In 2014, the Carolina Panthers selected Boston in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. In seven seasons, including stints with the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers, he played 104 games, finishing with 429 tackles and 15 career interceptions.
Kerry Brown, Naples
The multi-dimensional Brown won the Broxson Trophy in 2022 after finishing with 76 tackles (11 for loss), three forced fumbles and two sacks. The defensive back started nine games as a redshirt freshman at Minnesota in 2024 and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman on the Year Award after finishing third on the team with 63 tackles to go along with two interceptions.
De’Vondre Campbell, Cypress Lake
The linebacker had limited opportunities coming out of high school and played at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas before transferring to the University of Minnesota. Campbell played 39 games in three seasons with the Golden Gophers and was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a senior in 2015 after finishing with 92 tackles and a team-leading four sacks. The Atlanta Falcons selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Campbell started 10 games as a rookie, recording 48 tackles and an interception and played in a Super Bowl. In his nine years in the NFL, he started 122 games and was a first-team All-Pro with the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Jake Chaney, Lehigh
The linebacker was a member of The News-Press first-team All-Area defense both his junior and senior seasons for the Lightning. As a senior, he finished with 117 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. Chaney played 45 games in four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, finishing with 174 career tackles, five sacks and one interception. He spent last season as an assistant defensive line coach at Michigan State.
Terrence Cody, Riverdale
The massive defensive tackle played only one varsity high school football season, but it was an impactful one. Cody had 74 tackles and one fumble recovery as a senior in 2005, helping the Raiders to their first-ever state playoff victory. He became a junior college All-American at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and signed with Alabama. Cody was a two-time All-American with the Crimson Tide and a senior, blocked two field goal attempts to preserve a win over Tennessee as Alabama won a national championship. The Baltimore Ravens selected Cody in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played five seasons, all with the Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl in 2013. Cody
Kensley Faustin, Naples
The defensive back won Southwest Florida Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2023, finishing with 65 tackles and five interceptions for the Golden Eagles. He finished his varsity career with 17 interceptions, eight forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Faustin played two seasons at Auburn University and as a sophomore in 2025 had 20 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Faustin will play at Missouri this fall.
Eric Fletcher, Dunbar
The multi-talented Flecther starred on both sides of the ball for the Tigers, catching 75 passes for 1,193 yards and 19 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons as Dunbar reached back-to-back state semifinals. As a senior in 2023, Fletcher saw time at defensive back, finishing with 16 tackles and one interception. Fletcher began his collegiate Career at East Carolina and played at Oklahoma State in 2025, finishing with 11 tackles and three pass break-ups. He transferred to Wisconsin for the 2026 season.
Fa’Najae Gotay, North Fort Myers
The linebacker was a stalwart for the Red Knights, winning Southwest Florida Defensive Player of the Year honors in both 2016 (160 tackles, five sacks) and 2017 (60 tackles, three interceptions), a season North allowed just 7.2 points per game. Gotay played 47 games in seven seasons at Maryland and Auburn, finishing his collegiate career with 137 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
Aaron Henry, Immokalee
The defensive back was a member of the Indians’ 2004 Class 2A state championship team. As a senior in 2006, he was named the Naples Daily News Defensive Payer of the Year and finished his varsity career with 13 interceptions, 11 punt-return touchdowns and 1,459 all-purpose yards. At the University of Wisconsin, Henry started 32 games and was named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior in 2011, recording 67 tackles, four interceptions and one sack. In February, Henry was named the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Notre Dame.
Jayron Kearse, Cypress Lake/South Fort Myers
Kearse did most of his damage at Cypress Lake on the offensive side of the ball, which included a junior season where he rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. In 2012, his lone year at South, he was named The News-Press Defensive Player of the Year after recording 74 tackles, four interceptions, three sacks and a safety. Kearse was a two-year starter at strong safety for Clemson and was named a first-team All-American as a junior in 2015. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In eight pro seasons, including stints with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, Kearse played in 119 games, finishing with 388 career tackles, five interceptions and five sacks.
Aaron Lynch, Island Coast
The defensive lineman was a force up front for the Gators as a senior with 2010, finishing with 31 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and nine pass break-ups to help lead Island Coast to a state semifinal. Lynch played at both Notre Dame and USF, earning first-team American Athletic All-Conference honors with the Bulls in 2013 after leading the team with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Lynch had 21 career sacks in seven seasons, including two years with Chicago and one with Jacksonville.
Corey Lynch, Evangelical Christian
Lynch was named The News-Press Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2002, finishing with 98 tackles, an area-high 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,101 yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching seven touchdown passes and returning four kicks for scores. The defensive back was a three-time, first-team NCAA FCS All-American at Appalachian State as the Mountaineers won three consecutive national championships in 2005-07. Lynch finished his App State career with 358 tackles and 24 interceptions. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played six seasons with five teams, finishing with 125 tackles and five interceptions.
Jartavius ‘Quan’ Martin, Lehigh
Martin was a key component of the Lightning’s defense, making 87 tackles as a senior in 2017. He became a mainstay in the secondary for the University of Illinois, playing 55 games over five seasons and finishing with 222 tackles, 30 pass break-ups and seven interceptions. Martin, an All-Big Ten second-team selection as a senior, was picked in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. A starter at safety for the team, he had 99 tackles and three pass break-ups last season.
Devin Moore, Naples
Moore posted 160 tackles and 10 interceptions in 41 games with the Golden Eagles and was invited to the 2022 All-American Bowl. After struggling with injuries at the University of Florida, the defensive back had a stellar senior season with 35 total tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, a sack, and a forced fumble. The Dallas Cowboys selected Moore in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Leroy Roker III, Canterbury/Bishop Verot
In his senior season at Bishop Verot, the defensive back had seven interceptions to go along with 54 tackles and one sack. As a redshirt freshman at Ohio State in 2025, Roker appeared in all 14 games for the Buckeyes, finishing with nine tackle and one pass breakup.
Brian Rolle, Immokalee
One of the most decorated high school players in Southwest Florida history, Rolle was a two-time News-Press Defensive Player of the Year and Broxson Award winner. In 2004, the junior helped power Immokalee to a state championship, racking up 158 tackles while rushing for 548 yards and eight touchdowns. Rolle played four seasons at Ohio State and was a team captain as a senior in 2010. That season, he was named first-team All-Big Ten after collecting 76 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. A sixth-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, Rolle played two NFL seasons, finishing with 58 tackles and one sack.
Deadrin Senat, Immokalee
Senat was a force on the defensive line for the Indians, winning the Naples Daily News Defensive Player of the Year award as a junior in 2011. He played four seasons at the University of South Florida, winning the team’s Defensive MVP award as a junior and was named first-team All-Conference as a senior in 2017 after posting 66 tackles and six sacks. The Atlanta Falcons selected Senat in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played in 37 games over five seasons, recording 52 tackles and one sack.
Chris Singleton, Dunbar
As a senior in 2004, Singleton was a first-team, all-state selection in Class 2A, compiling 80 total tackles and a team-high four interceptions at defensive back. He also had 370 rushing yards and a team-best eight touchdowns, including a 72-yard kickoff return score in Dunbar’s 22-20 regional quarterfinal win over Hardee, the program’s first-ever playoff victory. Singleton played at Iowa State University and was inducted into the Lee County Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jeremy Ware, Lehigh
The defensive back was a four-year varsity starter for the Lightning, recording 40 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior in 2004. Ware played three years at Michigan State and was honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior in 2009 after making a career-high 52 tackles, five pass break-ups and two sacks. The Oakland Raiders selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft and he played in eight games as a rookie.
Jaylen Watkins, Cape Coral
Watkins played quarterback and defensive back for the Seahawks, leading the team to an 11-1 mark as a senior in 2009 by passing for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for 928 yards and 10 scores. He played 48 games over four seasons at the University of Florida, finishing with 133 tackles, 24 pass break-ups and three interceptions. Watkins was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played six seasons, winning the Super Bowl as a member of the Eagles in 2018.
Major Williams, Dunbar
Williams was a member of The News-Press All-Area Defensive First Team as a senior, finishing with 31 tackles and five pass breakups at defensive back. He started his collegiate career at the University of Virginia before transferring to Iowa Community College and then finding a home at Division II Carson-Newman. With the Eagles, Williams made the All-American team twice, finishing his career with 106 tackles, 17.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He spent the 2025 NFL preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs after signing as an undrafted free agent.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southwest Florida’s top 25 defensive football players of past 25 years
Reporting by Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
