Every athlete's recruitment is unique, but some stories are just a bit more strange than others.
2025 three-star North Gwinnett (GA) edge rusher Cole Funderburk holds nearly 10 offers, but his first — from the Indiana Hoosiers — came in a unique way.
"The first offer was very surprising, coming from a school that I had no communication with before I had received the offer," Funderburk said. "It was very exciting and they always will be the first school that took a chance on me so it remains big for me."
Among the 6-foot-4, 230-pound defender's seven current scholarship offers, one in-state program has already made a lasting impression.
"I think staying close to home is very important to me," Funderburk said. "That’s why the Georgia Tech offer means a lot to me, knowing I could go home any time I’m free, knowing home is 45 minutes from campus. My relationship with the staff there is probably the strongest at the moment because of the accessibility I have to GT."
However, his relationship with the Yellow Jackets go even deeper than their proximity to one another. His former head coach at North Gwinnett, Bill Stewart, took an analyst position at Georgia Tech prior to the current college football season.
"From my old head coach going there to be on the staff, to the new relationships I’ve built with Coach (Brian) Baker, Coach (Marco) Coleman and Coach (Brent) Key, they are really making an effort to make me feel wanted," Funderburk said. "My visits there have been really good because every time I go there it gets better. I’m excited to go a game there soon. "
Alongside the Yellow Jackets, Funderburk lists Appalachian State, Indiana and Wake Forest as the leaders in his recruitment. He is also in constant communication with Duke, Florida State and Kentucky, among others.
Funderburk and his family are in the process or setting visits to a number of the aforementioned programs, but nothing has been confirmed at the time of writing.
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