Cape Coral High School’s quarterback Derek Hooker made a statement in his first season as the starting QB, leading the Seahawks to an undefeated regular season and a playoff berth. At 6’1” and 165 pounds, the class of 2027 signal-caller has shown his potential, but he’s not content to rest on his achievements.

“I would say my overall performance was pretty good—not as good as I wanted it to be,” Hooker admitted. “There’s always room to improve at every level of the game. But for coming into that school and it being my first year as a starting QB, helping lead my team to the playoffs with an undefeated regular season, I’d say overall, not a bad season.”

Hooker set ambitious goals for his debut season, aiming for a 10-0 record, a regional title, and a championship run. “Although I didn’t start the first game, when I started our second game, I had a plan and led the team undefeated,” he shared. “We fell short in the playoffs, but now we work in the offseason to get better and learn.”

This offseason, Hooker is committed to improving his mechanics and arm strength while balancing his role as a nationally ranked baseball player. “I’ll be playing baseball, but I’ll also be in the gym and getting quarterback lessons during the baseball season so I can be better than I was this past season,” he said.

Off the field, Hooker enjoys life on the water. “I like to go out on my jet ski and go tubing in the lake with my friends and teammates,” he revealed.

With his dual-sport athleticism and dedication to improvement, Hooker’s future is as bright as the Florida sun.

X: @DerekHooker12