(LEBANON, Ill., April 21)—McKendree University senior wide receiver/return specialist Matt Cole (Chicago, IL/Curie) picked up several awards following his standout 2019 season for the Bearcats.
 
Cole was recognized on a pair of All-America lists following the season, garnering first-team honors from D2football.com, along with honorable mention accolades from Don Hansen's Football Gazette. In addition to his All-America awards, Cole was a second-team All-Super Region 3 pick through the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA),
 
During his senior season, Cole had 43 receptions for 939 yards and 12 touchdowns as a wide receiver. He broke the Bearcats' single-season records for receiving yards and touchdowns, and also finished the year with 86 points to finish second on the team's yearly list. Cole continued to excel in the return game for McKendree as well. His 23 kick returns and 625 kick return yards place Cole second on the Bearcats' single-season chart. Although he had just eight punt returns in 2019, Cole amassed 208 yards for a whopping 26 yard average per attempt. That included a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown at William Jewell College.
       
Cole racked up a McKendree single-season record 1,832 all-purpose yards in 2019. For good measure, he added 18 tackles on special teams.

For his career, Cole established new McKendree marks with 1,618 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. His 93 receptions rank fifth in program history, and his 3,583 all-purpose yards rank Cole fourth in program history. In the return game, Cole finished his playing days second in the Bearcats' record book with 1,400 kick return yards and three combined return scores.