Tight end was a position of need for the Arizona Wildcats in the offseason, and they landed one Tuesday morning.
Former Illinois tight end Cole Rusk committed to the Wildcats. Rusk has one season of eligibility.
The 6-5, 250-pound Rock Island, Illinois native started his college career at Eastern Michigan 2021 before transferring to Murray State for a year and Illinois, where he played the last two seasons. Rusk had 19 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown last season at Illinois.
Rusk joins an Arizona tight ends room that returns redshirt junior Tyler Powell, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on the first play from scrimmage in the Wildcats' season-opening win over Hawaii this past season. The Wildcats also return redshirt freshman Kellan Ford. Arizona signed four-star Seattle-area tight end Henry Gabalis for 2026.
The Wildcats lost Cameron Barmore, Sam Olson and Keyan Burnett, who left the program midseason.
Rusk is the second addition in Arizona's '26 transfer portal class.
