Rock Island’s Newest Transfer: TE Cole Rusk
Prep Redzone provides coverage of a recenet combine in Kansas.
Jake Lemming
At 6’6 230, [player_tooltip player_id="20276" first="Cole" last="Rusk"] has the ideal frame you look for in a tight end prospect. He moves exceptionally well and runs routes like a wide receiver. Rusk, put up good receiving numbers last fall, lining up mostly on the outside as the X receiver. He has bulked up this off-season, adding 30 pounds and has seen his recruitment heat up of late. Currently, he holds two offers from Army and Quincy University. He tells me he has also received interest from the likes of Eastern Michigan, Indiana State, Indiana, Bucknell, Yale, Eastern Illinois. He let me know he doesn’t have much of a dream school and is really just looking for the right fit. He’s already taken visits to Indiana, Iowa State, Indiana State, Vanderbilt, Miami (OH), Western Michigan, Army and Central Michigan. He was also scheduled to visit Iowa and Illinois before COVID-19 hit. I asked him when he was thinking of making a decision and he gave me this, "When I feel like I have been somewhere that feels like home. I want to be wanted and comfortable where I’m at."
This off-season, he transferred from Rock Ridge High School to Rock Island, a program loaded with talent. He’s been putting in a lot of work this off-season to ensure he’s a key cog in the Rocks offense, "I’ve been working out twice a day almost every day of the week. That’s including our team lifting with IHSA regulations."
Being the new guy, and having school cut short due to COVID-19, Rusk is eager to get around his new teammates, "Since I transferred, I’m just anxious to get with my team to start our season. I have high expectations this year for my team and I." Rock Island returns a ton of star power, including the likes of QB [player_tooltip player_id="20862" first="Eli" last="Reese"], ATH [player_tooltip player_id="20258" first="Perry" last="Slater"] and OL Tommy Smith. This could be a state championship contending squad in Class 6A. Rusk let me know they have one goal in mind for this fall, "To win a state championship. I know we have tons of talent, and as long as we can come together, we will be a top team in 6A."
This could end up being a big year for [player_tooltip player_id="20276" first="Cole" last="Rusk"]. Rock Ridge, didn’t really ask him to line up inline as a true tight end very much. However, this fall may be a lot different. Head coach Ben Hammer will most likely ask him to put his hand in the dirt and block more, and Rusk will be ready, "My blocking is one thing that I’ve never worked on until I knew I’d be playing tight end too. I’m aggressive, but just being more technical with it is what I’m working on." If Rusk puts on film that he can block as a true tight end, I believe the offers are going to come flowing in. His receiving ability is already evident on film, and now at 230, he’s ready to show his blocking ability as well.
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