Brian Cole II

Brian Cole II
No. 41 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	April 3, 1997 (age 27); Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	Heritage; (Saginaw, Michigan)
College:	Michigan (2015); East Mississippi CC (2016); Mississippi State (2017–2019);
NFL draft:	2020 / Round: 7 / Pick: 249
Career history
	Minnesota Vikings (2020); Miami Dolphins (2020–2021); Carolina Panthers (2021); Saskatchewan Roughriders (2022); Edmonton Elks (2022)*; Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2022–present);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
CFL status:	American
	Player stats at CFL.ca

Brian Keith Cole II (born April 3, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Mississippi State.

College career

Cole grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and played three games at Michigan as a wide receiver and on special teams. He was released from the team in January 2016.^[1] Cole transferred to East Mississippi Community College and switched to defense, compiling 54 tackles, with 3 forced fumbles, 3 blocked kicks, a sack, and a fumble returned for a touchdown. He came to Mississippi State and sat out a season as an academic redshirt. During his junior season, he played five games before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season after five games As a senior in 2019, Cole tallied 67 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and one interception.^[2]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m)	213 lb (97 kg)	31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	4.52 s
All values from NFL Combine^[3]

Minnesota Vikings

Cole was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round with the 249th pick of the 2020 NFL draft.^[4] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Vikings on July 27, 2020,^[5] and activated from the list on eight days later.^[6] He was waived on August 26, 2020.^[7]

Miami Dolphins

On September 7, 2020, Cole was signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins.^[8] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins on January 5, 2021.^[9] He was waived on July 16, 2021.^[10]

Carolina Panthers

On August 5, 2021, Cole was signed by the Carolina Panthers.^[11] He was waived on August 27, 2021.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Cole was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on February 2, 2022, but was released with the final training camp cuts on June 5, 2022.^[12]

Edmonton Elks

Cole was added to the practice roster of the Edmonton Elks on June 28, 2022.^[13] However, he was released from the practice roster on July 10, 2022.^[12]