At 6'5, 230 pounds, sporting a long unkempt mane and wrangly facial hair, Audie Cole looks the part of the quintessential linebacker. However, only two years ago Audie was behind center and fielding scholarship offers to become a college quarterback. Hailing from Monroe, Michigan, Cole was turning heads as an athletic, do-it-all signal caller, running a '4.6' 40 yard dash and throwing for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. With college coaches starting to pay attention, Cole thought staying home was the right route. He gave a soft verbal commitment to Central Michigan, where he hoped to turn into a premier quarterback. However, before he could think twice, Central Michigan's coach left the team, giving Cole the chance to step back and re-think his commitment. That is when NC State came calling. "I liked NC State a lot from the beginning. My Dad used to tell me that wherever I went, they'd probably switch my position because of my size and athleticism." Cole said. While many schools were promising him a chance to compete at quarterback, they would also keep the option open to move him around. "NC State was really the only school that was totally up front with me. They told me straight up that they were going to move me to linebacker, and I liked the fact that they were honest about it." Once at NC State, the staff had Audie redshirt his freshmen season to put on the necessary size to compete at linebacker in the ACC. That's when Audie came into his own, turning an already impressive 6'5, 215 frame, into a monstrous 6'5, 230 and giving him the ability to be an elite linebacker in the ACC.
Cole had the size, but found it to be a formidable task to master the transition to linebacker last season. "Sometimes it was tough to watch the guys ahead of me do things right while I kept messing up. I knew what I had to do but it was just a lot to learn." Last year (his freshman redshirt season) Audie was like a sponge, soaking up all the knowledge he could from the upperclassmen on how to become a dominate linebacker. "But it wasn't as if I'd never played defense before. In high school I played a little bit, and I was never shy of contact. If I ever had the opportunity to hit someone, I did."
That opportunity is sure to present itself regularly for Cole, who ran drills at outside linebacker with the first team on Monday. He certainly looked like an intimidating figure with his size, speed and athleticism on full display. Audie is a good bet to be the starter at OLB when the Wolfpack takes the field against South Carolina in less than a month.
From fearing linebackers to being one, Cole has made quite the transition in a very short period, and by no means is he content with his current situation. "My goal this year is just to keep improving, keep getting better. You can always get better, you can't stop improving, you can never stop."
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7 Responses to "Audie Cole: "Role Reversal""Well I sure do hope that Wilson is healthy the whole year. I also hope Glennon is healthy the whole year. But I say we put Cole in for at least one series against USC and let him get a little payback for those cheap shots from their team last year. I'd love to see a LB trying to hit a LB...
Haha, but in all seriousness, I think Audie Cole will be a great competitor on this years team. Hopefully he can have an impact similar to Nate's first real opportunity two years ago. I would really love to see some footage of him.
TOB said the other day that he (Audie Cole) was head shoulders above the rest of the competition at OLB...If TOB is saying that, then I'll take his word.
PCooks
great article guys. I never knew much about Cole, even though I heard he might start at OLB. This is a nice introduction peice for Audie...he looks like he's an animal on the feild. Do you guys have any video of him?
^We have some small clips of him along with everyone else in a highlight reel from Monday's opening practice that will be coming out today.
Im extremly excited about Cole stepping in this year and really taking control of the OLB spot. Hes got a great story! That was a big question going into the off season but now is even more magnified with Irving out. Cole seems like a beast at 6'5" 250 im very excited to see him plug the holes and I doubt many if any RB's will be able to push him back. My hope his pass def is as strong because if it is, with his speed he has the chance to really make a huge splash his R Fresh year.
With his controling the OLB spot and Michel still starting at MLB it allows TOB to let Manning and Maddox duke it out at ILB. The LB core really looks strong and yet still young with realisticly having 3 guys who could start being a F or Soph. Exciting stuff!!
Cant wait to see some footage.
Audi has a leg up on other LB's b/c he's seen the action from both sides of the ball. Knowing the movements of the O-line and the opposing backfields is a great advantage. From the sounds of things, the game is slowing down for him, and just in time. I'll bet he could knock your head off! And, as I said before, we got a taste of N. Irving two years ago, but we didn't know what he was capable of until last year. Audi played last year, and impressed. I can't wait to see him, and for that matter, the Maddox/Manning battle. We may have one hell of a LB Core even before Nate comes back! Go State!
If cole could get to 250+ and maintain that 4.6...4.7 speed he would make one heck of a DE as well.
I went and stood in the rain during that open practice last season before the Bowl Game. One thing that really stood out is that the team runs A LOT at the end of practice ( up to 25 and jog back a bunch then up to 50 and jog back a bunch).
There were guys faster then Cole but no one got back during the jog before him- he was almost non-stop. By the end he was finishing first on both ends- guy is not only athletically gifted but is very focused and motivated.
Again, read Coach Petercuskie interview about the type of recruits they go after and you get to know a part of Audie Cole real quick.
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