2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 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
 University of Illinois Graduate |
2025 Senior
- Played in all 13 games
- Touchdown reception at Duke was his first career reception for the Illini
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)
Thursday, March 05
Thursday, February 12
Thursday, February 05
Wednesday, January 21
