JACKSONVILLE – Former Kentucky Wesleyan wide receiver Keelan Cole is making more noise than ever on the NFL scene with a splashy Week 15 performance as an undrafted rookie free agent for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cole helped Jacksonville clinch a playoff berth against Houston with seven receptions, 186 yards and a touchdown in a 45-7 rout.
Cole has now hauled in receiving touchdowns from quarterback Blake Bortles in three consecutive games against Indianapolis, Seattle and the Texans. He posted virtually career-best numbers as a pro against Houston in the first half alone.
Cole caught a nine-yard scoring pass at the end of the second quarter and nearly had his second TD of the game on a 73-yard catch and run where he was dragged down at the 1-yard line just shy of the end zone.
After the Jaguars labored through a 3-13 record in 2016, Cole and a revamped defense have put a charge into the current campaign at the top of the AFC South Division at 10-4 going into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Listed second on the team’s official depth chart at one of the receiver positions, Cole became the primary target for Bortles as Marqise Lee went down early with an ankle injury.
Cole has gradually become a more focal point of the offense and has consistently flashed big play ability as a downfield threat and the tendency for making acrobatic grabs over the middle of the field.
Cole’s meteoric rise has drawn the praise of Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone, who spoke glowingly about the first-year pro at his postgame press conference on Sunday.
“I think that (Keelan) Cole probably worked as hard as I’ve ever seen a free agent work,” Marrone said. “That’s the truth. I mean, first guy in, last guy to leave, studying all the positions; he’s picked up the offense faster than anyone I’ve ever seen pick up.”
In 14 games as a professional, Cole has logged four starts with 32 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns.
Cole was the 2016 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Great Midwest Special Teams Player of the Year in his final season at Kentucky Wesleyan. He earned AP All-American honors before latching on with Jacksonville and making the team out of training camp.
Cole’s conference single-season record numbers of receiving yards (1,401) and touchdowns (15) stood the test of time through the fall.