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.
See the No. 11-15 ranked SWFL college football recruits on the 2024 The Big 15
No. 10 Logan Bartley
Position: Defensive back
School: First Baptist
Rating: 3-star (247Sports, ESPN, On3, Rivals). Ranked as the nation’s 50th-best safety by Rivals.
Commitment: None
Best Offers: Ole Miss, Boston College, Kansas State, Illinois, Wake Forest
Measurables: 6-1, 195 pounds
Grade: Senior
There’s no questioning Logan Bartley’s toughness. Last October, the First Baptist defensive back tore his labrum in a victory and Lemon Bay but didn’t miss a game as he helped lead the Lions back to the Class 1S Final Four.
Bartley finished the year with 101 tackles, a team-high 17.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a blocked punt, and a blocked field goal. Immediately after the season, he had surgery and after a four-month recovery, played the entire spring.
Bartley was committed to Wake Forest but decommitted on July 29.
Question: What makes you one of the best prospects in Southwest Florida?
For me, I feel like it’s my versatility. I can pretty much play anywhere but D-tackle and at FBA they use me that way. Recruiters like that. Coaches like that.
What was it like playing through that injury and what do you think it shows about you?
It shows that I want to play, I want to be around my team. I’m not the only one making a sacrifice and I feel like you know you need 11 people on the field and for me to not play when I can easily play through an upper-body injury is selfish of me.
How would you describe your football journey?
I started playing tackle football in first grade. I’ve been at FBA my whole life since first grade. It’s cool because both the coaches’ sons are in my class and probably half the guys in my grade play football. We’ve been growing up together forever so we’ve got to make it count this year.
What’s the highlight of your high school career so far?
Winning a state championship in 2022. Definitely. No doubt. I love that team.
What part of your game do you think has improved the most this season?
Really for me at this point it’s just my knowledge. And that’s something I really need to step up and take into that leadership role as a senior.
No. 9 Shawn Simeon
Position: Running back
School: Naples
Ranking: 3-star (247Sports, ESPN, On3, Rivals). Ranked as the 77th best senior running back in the nation by 247Sports.
Commitment: Toledo
Best Offers: Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Toledo
Measurables: 5-9, 175 pounds
Grade: Senior
Simeon is another player making the jump over from last year’s Next 15 after a dominant 2023 season. The Toledo commit led the area in rushing yards with 2,040 yards on the ground with 27 touchdowns on 188 carries.
Simeon was already a well-known name in the region, but stamped his name in Florida high school football history, setting a record for touchdowns in a postseason game after finding the end zone seven times in the Golden Eagles’ playoff win over Port Charlotte.
What makes you one of the best prospects in Southwest Florida?
I think one thing that makes me a good prospect is that I’m a very humble person. I never get above myself or I never act like I’m better than anybody else. I do this for my family and I know I have stuff to prove.
What was it about your visit to Toledo that helped you firm up your decision to commit?
Going up there by myself, that just speaks for itself. They honestly took me under their wing and showed me everything. I enjoyed it, I had a great time around the city and everything. The facility was great, the coaching staff was amazing. They taught me so much. They taught me the business side, and what I can use to improve myself on and off the field. Even the players, too. They were telling me how everything goes down. It’s a different feeling talking to players compared to coaches but the players were very genuine with what they’re doing and how it really goes and all of it fits in for me.
What has the recruiting process been like for you?
Honestly, coaches are still talking to me. They’re constantly hitting me up to check up and stuff like that. I feel like there’s a lot of coaches that are still trying to see what they can get. I’m committed, but stuff goes on. So as long as I just stay loyal and just see what’s best for me and my family, that’s just how it’s going to go.
How would you describe your journey in football?
I could describe it as very stressful. When I was younger, I tried to play football and they turned me down saying I was too young. And my older brother told me to take this as motivation, don’t take this as them saying you’re not good enough. So he put me through hell, literally putting…
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