Late this weekend, Texas signed San Jose State transfer sophomore cornerback Jay’Vion Cole, who may be a starter and impact player in the secondary.
Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported on Instagram on May 5 that former San Jose State Spartans sophomore transfer cornerback Jay’Vion Cole has committed to Texas football. Cole chose Texas over other colleges that offered him through the NCAA Transfer Portal, including the Auburn Tigers and Michigan State Spartans.
Texas football lands priority SJSU transfer CB Jay’Vion Cole
Cole made a multi-day official visit to Austin on May 2-4. Cole stated that his visit to Texas this weekend was “amazing,” which supposedly led him to discontinue his portal recruitment and not make any additional travels to other colleges who wanted him.
Cole was slated to visit Auburn beginning May 7. However, Texas convinced him to commit before the visit could take place early next week.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback has two years of eligibility remaining. Cole played one year for FCS Cal Poly as a true freshman during the 2022 season. He advanced to the FBS level by transferring to San Jose State for his sophomore year last year.
Cole was named to the PFF First-Team All-Mountain West after emerging as one of the Group of Five’s most efficient and productive corners. He was second in the Mountain West in pass breakups (10), and tied for sixth in interceptions (3).
According to PFF, Texas will have the eighth highest-graded cornerback in the Group of Five in 2023. He was also the MWC’s highest-graded corner in terms of both overall and coverage.
New Texas CB transfer Jay'Vion Cole was one of the best G5 corners for San Jose State in 2023.
-10 PBUs (2nd in MWC)
-3 INTs (T-6th in MWC)
-86.2 defensive grade (led MWC CBs)
-83.6 coverage grade (led MWC CBs)
-49.0 QBR in coverage (led MWC CBs) pic.twitter.com/zV1NI4MC8Z— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) May 5, 2024
Cole’s collegiate experience has been an unusual ride thus far. He was an unheralded cornerback recruit from Oakland, California, who signed with Cal Poly during the 2022 cycle. Cole swiftly studied and honed his talents before making the move to the FBS at San Jose State last year.
Here is the Jay'vion Cole interception ladies and gentleman his second of the day !!!#RideHigh | #TheClimb pic.twitter.com/JsIKpgGpaS
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) October 23, 2022
He was a key member of a San Jose State secondary that was one of the most improved in the Group of Five by 2023. The Spartans led the Mountain West in pass defense (allowing 183.0 passing yards per game).
Texas adds to its CB room with the addition of San Jose State CB Jay’Vion Cole.
Cole led SJSU in INT and pass deflections in 2023.
Watch him read the eyes and make an impressive play on the ball here. pic.twitter.com/MBTrrV3CRK
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) May 5, 2024
Prior to Cole’s arrival at San Jose State last season, the Spartans were ranked in the bottom half of the MWC in pass defense (217.0 pass yards per game allowed) for 2022.
Despite San Jose State’s double-digit loss against the USC Trojans in their season opener last fall, Cole performed admirably in pass coverage. Cole was San Jose State’s highest-graded defensive back in the defeat to USC, allowing 0 catches on three targets and one pass breakup.
Cole also performed effectively in pass coverage duties against UNLV’s Ricky White III, one of the Group of Five’s most productive wideouts. White, a probable early-round NFL draft prospect, with nearly 1,500 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.
Cole matched up with White throughout the majority of San Jose State’s win over UNLV last season, recording two pass breakups on two targets in pass coverage.
Texas adds valuable depth and speed at CB
Cole joins the Texas secondary as another veteran and accomplished cornerback, adding depth to a position that needs it after junior CB Terrance Brooks left last week. Brooks started double-digit games for Texas last year.
Since 2022, Texas has lost almost a dozen starts and more than 20 games at a critical secondary position due to his departure to the portal.
Cole can compete with another experienced returning upperclassman, senior Gavin Holmes, for starting reps at field corner in camp before the next season this autumn.
Adding Cole also allows the Longhorns to be more patient with some of their younger, promising cornerback freshmen. This upcoming season in the SEC, players such as Kobe Black, Santana Wilson, and Wardell Mack will not be hurried into action in crucial live-game scenarios.
Cole’s addition to the CB position is also notable for its rapidity. Cole ran the 100-meter dash in under 10.7 seconds as a senior in high school. He is faster with his long speed and has quicker hips than Brooks.
Texas has enough of speed to deploy at field corner this fall, with the sneaky-fast Holmes and a proven track guy like Cole joining the mix.
Cole can hold his own in man and zone coverage
Cole demonstrated last season at San Jose State that he could excel in a variety of man and zone secondary coverage tactics. He has the reflexes and expertise playing several zone coverage schemes at Texas.
Cole was consistently put in circumstances where he had to face some of the best wide receivers in the MWC, as well as high-level talent from P5 schools (including USC last season). In 2023, he ranked in the top half of starting MWC corners in terms of zone and man coverage grade.
Cole brings the aforementioned speed and ball abilities to man coverage, allowing the Longhorns to add another lockdown corner and playmaker on the field. The Longhorns’ 10.6-second 100-meter sprint time will help them defend the deep ball and prevent opponents from making big plays in the passing game.
Texas taking a broader approach to its portal strategy this offseason
This cycle, head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff have been more receptive to adding crucial components and experience to both sides of the ball, including established players from the gateway with immediate effect. Texas has added nearly twice as many players from the portal as it did the previous offseason, with nine.
On defense, Texas has added depth and experience to its secondary with Clemson senior safety transfer Andrew Mukuba and Cole. Texas has also strengthened the interior defensive line with a couple of former Arizona Wildcats transferred who followed Johnny Nansen this offseason: Tia Savea and Bill Norton.
