Education
He chose North Carolina State University after originally committing to Central Michigan.
He chose North Carolina State University after originally committing to Central Michigan.
He played college football at North Carolina State and was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cole played as a quarterback, safety and linebacker at Monroe High School for coach Greg Hudkins. He was a three-year starter at quarterback and also played defense as a senior.
He threw for 3,285 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career and was named All-league as a senior after rushing for 10 touchdowns and throwing for more than 1,700 yards.
Regarded as a two-star recruit, Cole was ranked as a top-30 player out of the state of Michigan by Rivals.com. As a freshman in 2007, Cole redshirted the season at linebacker.
Freshman season (2008)
In 2008, Cole saw action mainly on special teams, and his 213 specialty snaps ranked third on the team He totalled 14 tackles during his freshman season.
Sophomore season (2009)
As a sophomore in 2009, Cole started all 12 game, leading North Carolina State"s in tackles with 85 stops, finishing second in tackles for loss with eight and also tallying four sacks.
He led the team in stops versus Florida State (9) and North Carolina (10). He racked up a career-high 13 tackles at Virginia Technology He was recipient of the team"s First Rate (at Lloyd's) Michaels Award, which is given to the player who "puts team before self.
Junior season (2010)
As a junior in 2010, Cole played the Sam linebacker spot, but moved to middle linebacker in the spring, leading the defense with 809 snaps from scrimmage.
He tied for the team lead in tackles with 97, while his 10.5 tackles for loss ranked third among Wolfpack players. In that game, he had a six-yard sack and also recovered a fumble.
He led the team in tackles at Central Florida with a dozen, including a sack, two others for loss, and also pulled down his first career interception. Foreign his performance, Cole was named the Administrative Committee on Company-ordination Defensive Back of the Week by the league and the Administrative Committee on Company-ordination Player of the Week by Rivals.com.
Senior season (2011)
In the spring drills, Cole moved to middle linebacker for his senior season.
Pre-draft
Minnesota Vikings
Cole intercepted 2 passes, on consecutive plays, in the Vikings second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills returning both for touchdowns on August 17, 2012. On November 7, 2013 Cole was waived by the Vikings to make room for OT Kevin Murphy who was signed out of the practice squad due to injuries on the team On November 9, 2013 Minnesota Vikings re-signed Audie Cole.
On Week 13, he was named starting MLB, in place of Erin Henderson.
In week 9 on November 8, 2015, Cole started his first game of the season in place of injured Eric Kendricks against the Saint Louis Rams. Unfortunately, Cole suffered a fractured ankle in the fourth quarter against the Rams, ending his season.