Cole impresses at Missouri State pro day

(STATS) - Not every NFL-bound player gains an invitation to the NFL combine, so a college pro day is ultra-important to the rest. Missouri State linebacker Dylan Cole proved his value on Wednesday at the Bears' pro day at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield.

The leading tackler in the FCS last season recorded 32 reps on the 225-pound bench press and jumped a 39-inch vertical. That was five more reps and 1½ inches higher than the best linebacker results at the recent combine in Indianapolis.

"I did what I needed to do today to turn some heads and get noticed," Cole said. "I'm enjoying this. This is something I've wanted to do my entire life, and it's something I want to do for a long time."

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The 6-foot, 233-pound Cole was timed at 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash and participated in other tests and drills.

He averaged over 12.9 tackles per game while earning consensus FCS All-America honors. He finished third in the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award voting for national defensive player of the year.

The NFL draft will be held April 27-29 in Philadelphia.

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