Cole Rusk, the fourth-ranked 2026 Transfer Portal tight end, announced his commitment to Arizona from Illinois on Tuesday. Rusk is the 81st-ranked overall transfer in the 247Sports rankings. Rusk had 19 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown in 2025.
Playing for Football Championship Subdivision Murray State in 2023, Rusk was a third-team All-American with 36 receptions with 485 yards and six TDs. After being on the John Mackey Award Watch List in 2024 with Illinois, Rusk missed the season after suffering a knee injury during fall camp.
Rusk redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 and played one game in 2022 at Eastern Michigan.