Freshman RB Vernon Cole gives Chicago State a local burst of speed and upside
Vernon Cole is a 2026 freshman running back for Chicago State from Chicago’s Lane Tech, listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, and the early read is pure upside rather than a stat-heavy résumé[1][6][11]. He looks like a homegrown, developmental back with compact size, local pedigree, and enough athletic profile to draw attention as the Cougars build their new program; at this stage, the main appeal is fit, juice, and growth potential more than proven production[6][7][14].
