Mt. Vernon's Cole is Steady, Dependable and Hungry

There isn’t much on a football field Mt. Vernon (Fortville) senior Rylan Cole cannot do. He helps led the offense, is a standout on defense and is one of the most dangerous specials teams players in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. Growing up, Cole would watch football games with his father, who played at Bloomington South High School, and his love and appreciation for the game grew immediately. “I fell in love with the game, and I started playing flag football when I was in kindergarten. It feels great seeing all I have accomplished throughout my high school years, and it really shows that hard work pays off,” Cole told Sideline Prep Sports Report. What has he accomplished? Last season, Cole rushed for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with hauling in 26 receptions for 254 yards and a score. Three times he rushed for over 100 yards last season en route to helping Mt. Vernon finish 11-3 and advance to the semi state game, where they lost to eventual state champion Evansville Memorial. As a punt returner, he earned 251 yards. Defensively, the rising senior was just as dominant, notching 73 total tackles last fall. Of the 73, 49 were solo stops. He also had eight interceptions for 159 return yards, broke up eight passes and forced a fumble. For his efforts, he was named to the all-conference team and the Indiana Football Coaches Association Class 4A Junior All-State Team. “I spend countless hours in the weight room and really dedicated myself to be the best I can be. Even though running back isn’t my main position, I do love to play it. It is the best feeling in the world when I score a touchdown and get to celebrate with my teammates,” Cole said. And, Cole attributes his hard work to all his success. “I work extremely hard, and I am very dedicated on and off the field and that has shown. I really want to thank my dad for teaching me to work hard and showing me that hard work pays off,” Cole said. A year ago, the Marauders earned 11 victories under veteran head coach Mike Kirschner, who is 18-7 at the helm. Cole says last year’s semi-state run has fueled him and Mt. Vernon to achieve greatness in 2020. “Coming into the season, my main goal is to win a state championship. My main personal goal is to be the best leader on the field and also off the field. Coach Kirschner has really taught me how to be an effective leader and how important leadership is for a team,” Cole said. His hard work is paying off as he has an offer from Indiana State and is drawing attention from Ball State, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, The College of Holy Cross and Davidson.