Cole Signs Free Agent Contract with Houston Texans
April 29, 2017 | Football
Cole Draft Profile
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SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State standout Dylan Cole has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Houston Texans, the All-America linebacker confirmed Saturday evening.
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Cole, who was a consensus first-team FCS All-America selection as a senior, averaged 12.9 tackles per game in 2016 to lead all FCS players. The Rogersville, Mo., product recorded at least 13 tackles in nine different games as a senior, including 19 in the Bears' win over Southern Illinois. The All-MVFC first-team selection racked up 85 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
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He finished third in the 2016 Buck Buchanan Award voting as the top defensive player in the FCS ranks, played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as well as MVFC Scholar-Athlete Team laurels.
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"It's kinda bitter sweet," Cole said. "Obviously I wanted to get drafted ahead of my prediction. I thought I was going to get picked up around the sixth round. When the seventh round came around, I just wanted to become a free agent so I could pick where I wanted to go and the best fit for me. Houston was that place.
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I've been talking to them for a long, long time. They didn't get a chance to draft me so they could fill their needs on the offensive side. At the end of the day, I'm happy to be a Texan and hope to be for a long time."
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Cole completed his bachelor's degree in sales management in December. He capped his career with 457 tackles in 46 games -- all starts -- finishing third on the Bears' career tackles chart and ninth all-time in Missouri Valley Football Conference history.
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He was the highest-rated linebacker available on the draft board at the conclusion of this weekend's NFL Draft in Philadelphia.
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At his NFL Pro Day in March, Cole recorded 32 reps on the 225-pound bench press and posted a 39-inch vertical during the indoor skills testing. Both of those metrics would have been tops among linebackers at the 2017 NFL Combine. He also recorded a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump and was clocked at 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.
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SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State standout Dylan Cole has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Houston Texans, the All-America linebacker confirmed Saturday evening.
Â
Cole, who was a consensus first-team FCS All-America selection as a senior, averaged 12.9 tackles per game in 2016 to lead all FCS players. The Rogersville, Mo., product recorded at least 13 tackles in nine different games as a senior, including 19 in the Bears' win over Southern Illinois. The All-MVFC first-team selection racked up 85 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
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He finished third in the 2016 Buck Buchanan Award voting as the top defensive player in the FCS ranks, played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as well as MVFC Scholar-Athlete Team laurels.
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"It's kinda bitter sweet," Cole said. "Obviously I wanted to get drafted ahead of my prediction. I thought I was going to get picked up around the sixth round. When the seventh round came around, I just wanted to become a free agent so I could pick where I wanted to go and the best fit for me. Houston was that place.
Â
I've been talking to them for a long, long time. They didn't get a chance to draft me so they could fill their needs on the offensive side. At the end of the day, I'm happy to be a Texan and hope to be for a long time."
Â
Cole completed his bachelor's degree in sales management in December. He capped his career with 457 tackles in 46 games -- all starts -- finishing third on the Bears' career tackles chart and ninth all-time in Missouri Valley Football Conference history.
Â
He was the highest-rated linebacker available on the draft board at the conclusion of this weekend's NFL Draft in Philadelphia.
Â
At his NFL Pro Day in March, Cole recorded 32 reps on the 225-pound bench press and posted a 39-inch vertical during the indoor skills testing. Both of those metrics would have been tops among linebackers at the 2017 NFL Combine. He also recorded a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump and was clocked at 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.
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