Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 35-7vs Northern Arizona | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 | 13 | |
| Wk 2 | L 17-28@ BYU | 2 | 48 | 24.0 | 0 | 34 | Season-high 48 yds |
| Total | 3 | 61 | 18.5 | 0 | 34 |
#14
Cole Rusk
6th-year tight end for Arizona. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′5″ · 245 lb · Rock Island, IL · Rock Island HS
CFB Index 40 · #110 of 156 TEsMedium-low confidenceTransferred Illinois → Arizona for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
61
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 20.3 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rec, 48 yds, at BYU
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 tight end for Arizona. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Eastern Michigan in 2021.
- Transferred from Illinois to Arizona in 2026.
Cole Rusk
Creates mismatches lined up all over the formation. Across two seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Bret Bielema and Brent Brennan. The receipt on tape: 48 rec yds, 2 receptions against BYU, Week 2, 2026.
61 REC YDS · 3 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2021
- Signed with Eastern Michigan3-star out of Rock Island
2023
- Entered the portal
2024
- Entered the portal
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Arizona
2025Illinois
2026Arizona
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning
2026Arizona1-1HC: Brent Brennan · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidence
Elite: yards / catch (86th percentile). Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 30.5 YDS/g, 18.5 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Brent Brennan
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 35–7
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Lined up out wide as often as inline. Creates mismatches downfield.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Move TE
Lined up out wide as often as inline. Creates mismatches downfield.
TE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Gavin Bartholomew’s 2023 season.
84%match
NFL Rd 6
Matches Gavin on
Total EPA (college ability)
Height
Weight
Differs from Gavin on
Recruiting rating (lower)
EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Grayson Gunter’s path through Southern Miss.
85%match
Matches Grayson on
Height
Yards per reception
Weight
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Grayson Gunter's sophomore season at Southern Miss (2021).
89%match
Matches Grayson on
Weight
Yards / reception
TD rate
Differs from Grayson on
EPA / play (adj) (lower)
Background
Purchase Jersey Honors and Awards 2024: John Mackey Award watch list 2023: All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention Illinois 2025 (Redshirt Senior) Played in all 13 games in his second season with the Illini Tallied 19 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown Scored his only touchdown o...
The tight end room · Arizona
- #14Cole Rusk217 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Shane King24 receiving yards · 2025
- #83Tyler Mustainno box-score line yet
- #87Tyler Powellno box-score line yet
- #86Arthur Banno box-score line yet
3 more on the roster · Arizona team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology