JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The glow of the screen lights up TJ Cole’s focused expression. In the darkened room at Raines High School, the same play rolls back and repeats – a defensive formation that might hold the key to his team’s next victory.
Click. Rewind. Play.
The senior quarterback’s eyes narrow as he studies the cornerback’s positioning, mentally cataloging every detail that could make the difference under Friday night’s lights.
This isn’t homework, though it is certainly a study session.
Cole draws on the screen.
“We’ve got a lot of Cover 3 beaters that we can dominate teams with,” he said, his voice carrying the confidence of someone who’s spent hours decoding the puzzle pieces of high school defenses.
The solitary work has helped propel the Vikings to a dominant 3-0 start this season.
In the quiet hours between practices and game time, Raines’ signal-caller meticulously builds the foundation for an offense that has already scored more than 175 points.
“To be honest, we knew we were special, but we didn’t know how special we were,” Cole said as he reflected on the team’s explosive start.
Cole said he devotes about five hours each week to studying film. He watches early in the week with his team and coaches.
Wednesdays are for his personal deep dives into defensive tendencies.
Then there’s the final review, just hours before kickoff, when Cole mentally rehearses the scenarios he might face under the stadium lights.
“Personally, I’m looking at the best game they played all season,” Cole explained. “It’s amazing just seeing the things that we see in film, and you know that you got a play that can beat it...It’s amazing.”
That dedication and success have earned Cole the trust of his coaches. When he steps up to the line of scrimmage, he said he has full control.
“If it’s a 1-yard gain or a 3-yard gain, a touchdown, they just want to know why I did it,” Cole says. “If I can explain why I did it, they’re cool with it.”
And Cole said his preparation allows him to slow the game down.
“I have 25 seconds to get into the right play, get into the right protection, get into the right snap count,” he said. “That’s my biggest improvement this season, being able to put guys in the right places and protecting myself with the o-line.”
Coming off a bye week, Cole and the Vikings are preparing to face Riverside on Friday at 6:30 p.m., but the real work – the work that happens in the dark – is already well underway.