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University of Illinois Athletics

2025 Football Roster

Patrick Pierson / Illinois Athletics

14 Cole Rusk

  • Position TE
  • Class Senior
  • Height 6-5
  • Weight 250
  • Major Management
  • Hometown Rock Island, Ill.
  • High School Rock Island
  • Prev School Murray State
  • Instagram cole.rusk
  • Twitter ColeRusk1

Biography

Graduation Badge University of Illinois Graduate

2024 Junior

  • Missed the season after suffering a knee injury during fall camp
  • John Mackey Award Watch List
  • Transferred to Illinois with two years of eligibility remaining

2023 Sophomore (Murray State)

  • FCS All-American Third Team
  • All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention
  • Played in 11 games
  • 39 receptions for 507 yards and six touchdowns on the season

2022 Redshirt Freshman (Eastern Michigan)

  • Played in one game
  • Made his collegiate debut against Akron

2021 Freshman (Eastern Michigan)

  • Did not play in a game and redshirted the season

High School

  • Three-start recruit by 247Sports
  • Two-star recruit by Rivals
  • 39 receptions for 684 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020
  • Set the school's single-season receiving yards record for a tight end (684)
  • Ranked as the No. 59 recruit in the state of Illinois by 247Sports
  • All-Three Rivers Conference’s Rock Division First Team
  • Started his high school career at Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Illinois
  • Also played basketball in high school

Personal

  • Born November 12, 2002
  • Son of Steve and Joan Rusk
  • Father, Steve, lettered in wrestling at Illinois from 1994-95 and was a two-time qualifier for the NCAA Wrestling Championships
  • One sister, Hanna
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2025 with a degree in communication
  • Majoring in management (Master's) 

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 14

    2024Junior

    TE
    6'5" 250 lbs
    14
  • 14

    2025Senior

    TE
    6'5" 250 lbs
    14