(LEBANON, Ill., April 25)—McKendree University's Matt Cole (Chicago, IL/Curie), who wrapped up a stellar four-year career with the Bearcats this past fall, is signing a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.
 
Cole, who was the 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, heard from the Dolphins Saturday evening after the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
 
"I'm excited and extremely blessed for this opportunity with Miami," said Cole. "I know being a (NCAA) Division II guy I'm a little under the radar, but ready to take on this challenge. I just want to go down there, work hard with that blue-collar mentality we had at McKendree, and prove myself. There have been a lot of unsigned players who have been able to make it in the NFL. I am ready for this chance."
 
In 2019, Cole rewrote several lines in the Bearcats' record book on his way to earning first-team All-GLVC honors. For the year, he led McKendree with 43 receptions for 939 yards with 12 touchdown catches. Cole established new single-season records for receiving yards and TDs. Of his 12 touchdown grabs, nine of them covered at least 40 yards, and averaged slightly more than 48 yards per scoring grab last fall.
 
Cole also excelled on special teams for McKendree in 2019. On kickoffs, he had 23 attempts for 625 yards to average just over 27 yards per attempt. That includes a 100-yard return for a touchdown during a nationally-televised game from Leemon Field against Lindenwood University on Oct. 5.
 
As the Bearcats' primary punt returner, he had just eight attempts but covered 208 yards to average 26 yards per effort. Cole returned a fourth-quarter punt at William Jewell College 74 yards for a score on Oct. 19. In 2019, Cole amassed 1,832 all-purpose yards, which is the most all-time for any McKendree player in a season.
 
"This is a great moment for Matt, for McKendree University and for our football program," said McKendree head football coach Mike Babcock, who guided Cole during his entire four-year career. "I've coached fast players and players who loved to hit, but I'm not sure I've ever coached a student-athlete with a bigger smile on his face every time he came to practice. He's a very special young man and we hope this is just the start of even bigger things for Matt."
 
On top of his offensive and special teams output this past season, Cole registered 18 tackles on special teams, including 11 solo stops. He collected 46 tackles over his McKendree playing days.
 
Over his four years at McKendree, Cole set new program marks with 1,618 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches. His 93 receptions rank fifth all-time. Cole also ranks in the Bearcats' career top five with 46 kick returns for 1,400 yards with four combined special teams touchdowns. During that time he racked up 3,583 all-purpose yards, which is good for fourth all-time at McKendree.
 
Cole was a two-time All-GLVC selection during his McKendree playing days. He was a three-year starter at wide receiver for the Bearcats.