R250 ATH Cole still wide open

While most of his fellow four-stars in the Midwest are naming favorites, Rivals250 athlete Brian Cole of Saginaw (Mich.) Heritage is having trouble identifying which of the schools that have offered is his favorite.

"They are all up there," Cole said. "I really have no idea (on favorites) and they all treat me well. I have a great relationship with all the teams."

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Cole plans to graduate high school in December and enroll in college early. He and his parents have discussed making his college decision in December, preceded by official visits.

Which schools will receive those visits has yet to be determined, but Cole did make several college campus stops this spring. He visited Tennessee with his parents on their way back from spring break in April.

"It was just a visit to talk to the coaches again and get a better relationship," Cole said of Tennessee. "It was a great time with my friends again - Joshua Dobbs and Marquez North. I am real comfortable with them."

Cole was just in Knoxville for one night and didn't get a chance to see a spring practice, but he did spend a lot of time with the players and coaches.

"I like Tennessee a lot. The relationship gets better and better every time I see them," he said. "Me, my mom and my dad said down with Coach Butch (Jones) and we just had a conversation. I wasn't the one doing the talking - it was mainly my mom and my dad. My mom always points to academics, so we talked about that most of the time."

Cole followed up the visit to Tennessee with one to Michigan State later in April for their spring game and came away from his time in East Lansing with more positive feelings about the Spartans.

"Michigan State is strong too, I like them a lot," Cole said. "It feels like another home, basically, because of the atmosphere and my relationship with the coaches."

The coach at Michigan State Cole has the strongest relationship with is defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett.

"We talk about literally everything but football," Cole said. "It's just like we are having a regular conversation."

Visits to Michigan and Ohio State were also made in the spring. Some of those schools see him at wide receiver, while others see him at defensive back. Where he plays is not a major consideration for Cole when he evaluates his college options.

"I think I will fit in well wherever, I just want to the best opportunity to play," he said.

Visits will continue this summer with Cole and his father now looking into planning a trip in June to see schools throughout the Midwest.