# Audie Cole > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Audie_Cole > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Audie_Cole.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Cole > Source revision: 1343863612 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Audie Raymond Cole** (born June 1, 1989) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [NC State Wolfpack](/source/NC_State_Wolfpack_football) and was selected by the [Minnesota Vikings](/source/Minnesota_Vikings) in the seventh round of the [2012 NFL draft](/source/2012_NFL_draft).[1] ## Early life Cole played as a [quarterback](/source/Quarterback), [safety](/source/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)) and [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) at [Monroe High School](/source/Monroe_Public_Schools_(Michigan)). He was a three-year starter at quarterback and also played defense as a senior. He threw for 3,285 yards and 23 [touchdowns](/source/Touchdowns) in his career and was named All-league as a senior after rushing for 10 touchdowns and throwing for more than 1,700 yards. Cole also [lettered](/source/Letterman_(sports)) in [baseball](/source/Baseball) and [basketball](/source/Basketball) at Monroe, and was a [Golden Glove](/source/Golden_Gloves) winner in [boxing](/source/Boxing). Regarded as a two-star recruit, Cole was ranked as a top-30 player out of the state of [Michigan](/source/Michigan) by [Rivals.com](/source/Rivals.com).[2] He chose [North Carolina State University](/source/North_Carolina_State_University) after originally committing to [Central Michigan](/source/Central_Michigan_Chippewas_football). ## College career As a freshman at NC State in 2007, Cole [redshirted](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)) the season at [linebacker](/source/Linebacker). ### Freshman season (2008) See also: [2008 NC State Wolfpack football team](/source/2008_NC_State_Wolfpack_football_team) In 2008, Cole saw action mainly on special teams, and his 213 specialty snaps ranked third on the team. He totalled 14 tackles during his freshman season. ### Sophomore season (2009) See also: [2009 NC State Wolfpack football team](/source/2009_NC_State_Wolfpack_football_team) As a sophomore in 2009, Cole started all 12 games, leading NC State's in [tackles](/source/Tackle_(football_move)) with 85 stops, finishing second in tackles for loss with eight and also tallying four [sacks](/source/Quarterback_sacks). He led the team in stops versus [Florida State](/source/Florida_State_Seminoles_football) (9) and [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_football) (10). He racked up a career-high 13 tackles at [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football). He was recipient of the team's [Al Michaels Award](/source/Al_Michaels), which is given to the player who "puts team before self. ### Junior season (2010) See also: [2010 NC State Wolfpack football team](/source/2010_NC_State_Wolfpack_football_team) As a junior in 2010, Cole played the [Sam linebacker](/source/Linebacker) spot, but moved to middle linebacker in the spring, leading the defense with 809 snaps from scrimmage. He tied for the team lead in [tackles](/source/Tackle_(football_move)) with 97, while his 10.5 tackles for loss ranked third among Wolfpack players. He tied his career-high with 13 stops in the win at [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_football). In that game, he had a six-yard sack and also recovered a fumble. He led the team in tackles at [Central Florida](/source/UCF_Knights_football) with a dozen, including a sack, two others for loss, and also pulled down his first career interception. For his performance, Cole was named the [ACC](/source/Atlantic_Coast_Conference) Defensive Back of the Week by the league and the ACC Player of the Week by *[Rivals.com](/source/Rivals.com)*. ### Senior season (2011) See also: [2011 NC State Wolfpack football team](/source/2011_NC_State_Wolfpack_football_team) In the spring drills, Cole moved to [middle linebacker](/source/Linebacker) for his senior season. ## Professional career ### Minnesota Vikings Cole intercepted 2 passes, on consecutive plays, in the Vikings second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills returning both for touchdowns on August 17, 2012.[3] On November 7, 2013, Cole was waived by the Vikings to make room for offensive tackle Kevin Murphy who was signed out of the practice squad due to injuries on the team. On November 9, 2013, Minnesota Vikings re-signed Audie Cole. In Week 13, he was named starting MLB, in place of [Erin Henderson](/source/Erin_Henderson). In Week 9 on November 8, 2015, Cole started his first game of the season in place of injured [Eric Kendricks](/source/Eric_Kendricks) against the [St. Louis Rams](/source/St._Louis_Rams).[4] Unfortunately, Cole suffered a fractured ankle in the fourth quarter against the Rams, ending his season.[5] ### Jacksonville Jaguars On March 11, 2017, Cole signed with the [Jacksonville Jaguars](/source/Jacksonville_Jaguars).[6] He was released on August 26, 2017.[7] ### New Orleans Saints On August 28, 2017, Cole signed with the [New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints).[8][9] He was released on September 1, 2017. ## Personal life Cole cut his trademark long hair during the 2013 off season and donated to a charity program benefitting youth fighting cancer (Children With Hair Loss) in [Michigan](/source/Michigan). He took part in 2013 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener weekend activities in [Park Rapids, Minnesota](/source/Park_Rapids,_Minnesota), helping youth get involved in outdoor activities and helping promote outdoors programs through [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources](/source/Minnesota_Department_of_Natural_Resources). He graduated in 2011 with a parks, recreation and tourism degree. ## References 1. ["2012 NFL Draft Listing"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2023-05-14. 1. ["Audie Cole Profile - NC State University Official Athletic Site"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120506224305/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cole_audie00.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cole_audie00.html) on May 6, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012. 1. [Rookie Buzz: Vikings' Audie Cole - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/61892/rookie-buzz-vikings-audie-cole) 1. Murphy, Brian (November 6, 2016). ["Vikings Will Sub Audie Cole for Injured Eric Kendricks vs. Rams"](http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_29082218/vikings-will-sub-audie-cole-injured-eric-kendricks). *twincities.com*. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 6, 2016. 1. Gonzalez, Jason (November 8, 2015). ["Vikings Linebacker Audie Cole Lost for the Season after Fracturing Ankle"](http://www.startribune.com/vikings-linebacker-audie-cole-lost-for-the-season-after-fracturing-ankle/343275872/). *startribune.com*. Michael J. Klingensmith. Retrieved January 6, 2016. 1. ["Jaguars sign linebacker Audie Cole as unrestricted free agent"](http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Jaguars-sign-linebacker-Audie-Cole-as-unrestricted-free-agent/d50ba730-b875-49e3-bcd7-2b99b0a6341d). *Jaguars.com*. March 11, 2017. 1. Day, Ryan (August 26, 2017). ["Jaguars release Audie Cole"](https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2017/8/26/16208966/jacksonville-jaguars-release-audie-cole). *Big Cat Country*. SB Nation. Retrieved 2025-07-13. 1. Teope, Herbie (August 28, 2017). ["Saints sign veteran linebacker Audie Cole: source"](http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2017/08/saints_sign_veteran_linebacker.html). *NOLA.com* 1. ["NFL Transactions"](http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/transactions/) ## External links - [Minnesota Vikings profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20131122091529/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Audie-Cole/af208a43-e984-43f0-8d48-3d7ac0b761bb) - [NC State profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20120506224305/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cole_audie00.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Audie Cole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Cole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Cole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.