Plantation’s Cole set to enroll early at Syracuse, prep for ’19

Cornerback eager to help Orange, take on Clemson

PLANTATION – Adrian Cole watched Monday’s National Championship Game between Clemson and Alabama and thought about competing for a spot in the College Football Playoffs when he joins the Syracuse football team next season.

“We really feel like we can be in that situation next year,” Cole said. “All we had to do is beat Clemson, and we could’ve been there. We played Notre Dame, our quarterback ended up being hurt … But we’ve got better things in store.”

Cole, a first-team AllCounty selection from Plantation, will enroll at Syracuse for the spring semester and start his college career early. The biggest task in front of him on the field will be helping shut down the Clemson passing game, featuring freshman star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Syracuse lost to Clemson 27-23 in Lawrence’s first start this season. The date for the 2019 Syracuse-Clemson game has not been set yet.

“It shows that Syracuse deserves to be a part of the discussion,” said Cole, who is rated a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. “Watching the Clemson-Alabama game, we feel like we could really do some great things next year and the years to come. With coach Dino [Babers] signing that extension, it’s going to have recruits wanting to come to Syracuse even more, and we’re going to do some great things.”

Cole’s faith in Babers and the Syracuse program paid off this season. The Orange went 10-3 and finished the year 15th in the Associated Press poll.

“I committed to them after the 4-8 season last year, and when I went up on my official visit, I saw everything for myself, and it made me feel some special things were going on up in Syracuse, New York, and I want to be a part of it,” Cole said. “This year, we went 9-3 with a bowl game win against West Virginia, so everything ended up playing it’s part. I think I made the right decision.”

Cole, who finished the season with 20 tackles, four interceptions and eight pass breakups, said he’s a little nervous about adjusting to the life of a college player, with early morning classes and afternoon workouts. But he’s excited to get up to Syracuse and start his college career.

“I’m ready to get to work, do what I got to do and make an impact right away,” Cole said.

The Stallions have named a new offensive coordinator, and it’s someone accustomed to running high-powered offenses.

Nick Martinez, who stepped down at the University School midway through this season, announced his hiring as Heritage-Delray’s new offensive coordinator on his Twitter account.

“When I first set out to coach I made a promise that I would stay true to myself as a person, as well as a coach, and I truly feel that I have landed on a staff that shares the same sentiment,” Martinez wrote on Twitter.

Martinez’s offense with the Sharks this season, which featured Class 5A-1A offensive player of the year Kenny McIntosh, averaged 51.4 points per game through five games.

Cole