Furman University

Honors & Awards
2020 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll

2019 — Opened the season as Furman’s starting center and went on to make four starts while seeing action in all 13 games...totaled 319 snaps... played a key role in leading Furman to an 8-5 record, at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, and No. 16 ranking in the AFCA Coaches final poll...helped pave the way for All-SoCon running back Devin Wynn (1,182 yards, 14 TDs) and a Paladin offense that paced the SoCon in scoring (33.5 ppg)...logged starts in the first three games: Charleston Southern (46-14 win), Georgia State, and Virginia Tech...also got the starting nod versus Samford (58-14 win), posting a season high 43 plays...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.

2018 — Earned playing time in nine of Furman’s 10 games and registered eight starts at center, the first coming against East Tennessee State...totaled 532 play participations...was in on a season high 80 snaps against Mercer in the Paladins’ 35-30, season ending victory that clinched a share of the program’s 14th SoCon championship...played a central role in Furman tailback Devin Wynn’s (722 yds., 6 TDs) strong season.

2017 — Appeared in eight games as a backup to All-America and Jacobs Blocking Award winning center Matthew Schmidt...logged 52 plays...saw his first action (11 plays) against N.C. State...had 14 snaps versus Colgate (45-14 win)...totaled a season high 16 snaps against The Citadel (56-20 win).

High School: 2017 graduate of Sandy Creek (4A) High School...football coach was Chip Walker...played center and offensive tackle...two-time second team All-Fayette County honoree...collected honorable mention All-Region 5-4A accolades in 2016...ranked in the Top 10 Adidas Showcase in 2015 and ‘16...helped lead Sandy Creek to an 8-4 finish and second round appearance in state playoffs as a senior.

Personal: Full name is Cole Neely...born May 13, 1999, in Atlanta, Georgia...son of Ed and Lisa Neely...communications major.