Georgia 4-star LB signee Chris Cole: Bulldogs 'checked all my boxes'

Salem (Va.) four-star linebacker Chris Cole is one of the many Georgia signees that’s making heads turn at Under Armour All-America practice in Orlando.

The 6-foot-2.5, 210-pounder was one of the 10 top performers on day two of practice, according to On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power and national scout Cody Bellaire.

“Cole looks to have the best frame of the linebackers on hand. Given the practice structure, we aren’t able to see a ton from the linebackers outside of position drills until the session moves to 11-on-11 periods. That’s when we saw the future Bulldog make an impact,” Power wrote. “Cole triggered and jumped a pass during a 2-minute drill, coming down with a very nice interception that may have gone for a pick-six in a live game.”

It’s just another notch in the belt of Cole, the No. 45 overall prospect and No. 3 LB in the 2024 cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The blue-chip LB arrived to practice directly after almost two weeks with UGA as it prepared for the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

Cole signed his National Letter of Intent on Dec. 20 and immediately made his way to Athens, where he participated in bowl practice and got a first-hand look at what’s to come under Kirby Smart and Co.

“It’s way different than high school, my first day it was very overwhelming, new people all around me, new environment, and the big difference was the linemen changed compared to high school,” Cole said on Sunday. “You’ve got to mentally prepare yourself to go to the next level. I knew it was going to be hard but then I just told myself to push through it.”

Cole ready to be the next great Georgia LB

During his junior year at Salem High, Cole made the transition from safety to linebacker. He continued to rise up recruiting rankings and began fielding offers.

The likes of Miami, Tennessee, USC and the in-state Virginia Tech Hokies were all firmly in the mix, but none were able to top Georgia. After his Sept. 10 commitment, other programs did not let their foot off the gas, but there was no real chance of pulling off a flip.

“After I committed, it got worse. Coaches were still in contact, trying to get me to flip and all that. I just love Georgia and everything they have to offer,” he said.

Cole and Five-Star Plus+ LB signee Justin Williams are two of the many elite prospects headed to Athens for the 2024 season. The blueprint for success has been well laid out and Cole intends to follow it.

“I’d say the development part, really,” Cole said when asked what put Georgia over the top. “Coach Schumann and Coach Smart, they’ve developed many linebackers and I felt like if I went there i’d be the next. They checked all my boxes.”