CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Update: Cole Rusk has accepted his offer to play for the Fighting Illini. Check out his interview with News 8 Sports' Kory Kuffler in the above video.
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If you follow high school sports in the Quad Cities, the two biggest rivalries are Bettendorf versus Pleasant Valley and the Rock Island Rocks against the Moline Maroons.
Illinois has an outstanding DB on their roster in Moline's Matthew Bailey. On New Year's Day, former Rock Island prep Cole Rusk was offered to play football for the Fighting Illini.
If Rusk accepts the offer, Western Big 6 players will play on the same team in Champaign. The Rusk family is very familiar with the orange and blue. Father Steve Rusk wrestled for Illinois.
Cole said of the possibility of playing with Bailey, "We know each other from high school and played against each other. If it works out, I think it would be great to be on the same team with him; everyone said he's a great guy and obviously a good football player."
The timing could not be more perfect for Cole. Illinois Junior Tip Rieman received the news he wanted from the NFL scouts about the 2024 draft, which means he is not coming back to Illinois.
"Kedric, I can't lie. I told Coach Bielema. I've grown up a fan since I was a little boy, I have been to 20 to 30 football games there. Getting to talk to him was like a dream come true and Coach Bielema knows this," Rusk said.
The former Rock is a Murray State transfer who spent his first two college seasons at Eastern Michigan. In 2023 at Murray State, Rusk was named an FCS All-American after he finished the season with 39 catches for 512 yards and six touchdowns.
"I have learned a lot since high school. I was a receiver, but my hands never hit the ground then, but I'm a much different player now. I know I can play at the Power 5 level, and I have the confidence in myself and I will work hard wherever I play next year," he said.
Cole did tell WQAD that he is blessed to have offers from so many schools like California, Ole Miss, Houston, Tulane, Colorado State, Washington State and Texas A&M with others still calling.
The 6-foot-6, 252-pound junior will have two years of eligibility remaining, so he will make sure this is his last stop. He is working on a schedule but will visit Illinois, Ole Miss and possibly Houston.
For both Rusk and Fighting Illini Head Coach Bret Bielema, being from the Quad Cities region has a special meaning in this recruitment. Illinois has not done well in convincing players to take I-74 east.
"Yeah, a lot of players from our area typically go to Iowa. Logan Lee from Orion , where my dad is from, is a senior at Iowa this year. Hopefully, things work out; Illinois is aware of where I stand for my next move," Rusk said.
Illinois should expect a visit from the former Rock in the next few weeks.
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