Cole Burgess

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May, Burgess carries over a notable career at Division III SUNY Cortland to the professional ranks ... Cortland highlights include four first-team All-Empire 8 Conference selections, as well as D-III national title in '23 ... Helped lead Red Dragons to 14-1 record in 2023, and caught go-ahead TD with under two minutes left in national championship game ... In 2023, he posted career highs and led the Empire 8 in receptions (87), receiving yards (1375) and receiving TDs (16) ... Finished career with 3133 yards and 35 TDs on 178 catches in 43 games played ... Also a threat in the return game, he had 66 KORs for 1647 yards (25.0 average) and three TDs, along with nine PRs for 64 yards ... Spent six years at Cortland, but played four seasons (2018-19, '22-23), as the '20 campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic and he missed '21 due to suspension.

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May, Burgess carries over a notable career at Division III SUNY Cortland to the professional ranks ... Cortland highlights include four first-team All-Empire 8 Conference selections, as well as D-III national title in '23 ... Helped lead Red Dragons to 14-1 record in 2023, and caught go-ahead TD with under two minutes left in national championship game ... In 2023, he posted career highs and led the Empire 8 in receptions (87), receiving yards (1375) and receiving TDs (16) ... Finished career with 3133 yards and 35 TDs on 178 catches in 43 games played ... Also a threat in the return game, he had 66 KORs for 1647 yards (25.0 average) and three TDs, along with nine PRs for 64 yards ... Spent six years at Cortland, but played four seasons (2018-19, '22-23), as the '20 campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic and he missed '21 due to suspension.

Career transactions:

Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-10-24.

College highlights:

Played in 43 games over four seasons (2018-19, '22-23) at SUNY Cortland.

2023—Played in all 14 games ... Helped SUNY Cortland win NCAA Division III national championship (also known as the Stagg Bowl) ... Named first-team All-Empire 8 Conference ... Led conference in receptions (87), receiving yards (1375) and receiving TDs (16) ... Receiving yardage ranked fourth in Division III, while receptions total ranked fifth and receiving TDs ranked tied for sixth ... Also returned 20 kickoffs for 410 yards (20.5 average) ... Recorded 100 or more receiving yards in six games, including each of team's final three contests ... Caught nine passes for career-high 245 yards and three TDs on Nov. 4 vs. Brockport; his 245 yards ranked fourth in a single game in program history ... In D-III semifinals on Dec. 9 at Randolph-Macon, had 12 catches for 145 yards and three TDs to lead Cortland to title game ... In title game on Dec. 15 at North Central (Ill.), caught 11 passes for 134 yards and two TDs, including go-ahead score on a 21-yard grab with 1:41 remaining in fourth quarter.

2022—Played and started 10 games ... Earned first-team All-Empire 8 and third-team D3football.com all-region honors ... Caught 37 passes for 816 yards (22.1) and team-high 11 TDs ... Had seven KORs for 144 yards ... Had four 100-yard receiving games ... Tallied four catches for season-high 161 yards, including season-long 81-yarder, with two TDs on Nov. 5 vs. St. John Fisher.

2021—Did not play due to suspension.

2020—Did not play, as Cortland's season was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2019—Played and started first 10 games of season ... Named first-team All-Empire 8 as a WR, all-purpose player and return specialist ... Led team in receptions (52), receiving yards (904), yard per reception (17.4) and receiving TDs (eight) ... Returned 15 kickoffs for 405 yards (27.0) and one TD, along with eight punts for 62 yards (7.8) ... KOR TD was an 84-yarder on Oct. 19 vs. Alfred University ... Had eight grabs for season-high 187 yards and two TDs, and added three KORs for 76 yards on Oct. 26 at St. John Fisher.

2018—Earned first-team All-Empire 8 honors as a kick returner ... Played in nine games ... Caught two passes for 38 yards as a reserve WR ... Returned 24 kicks for 688 yards (28.7), with two TDs ... On Oct. 27 vs. St. John Fisher, returned a kickoff 97 yards to the end zone, tying for fifth-longest KOR TD in school history.

High school:

Attended Greenwich Junior-Senior High School in Greenwich, N.Y. ... Earned all-league honors three times ... Named Class D Player of the Year as a senior in 2017 ... Named all-state as a junior and senior ... Also played baseball and track and field ... Three-time all-state selection in baseball ... Set school record in 300 meters in track and field.

Personal:

Hometown is Greenwich, N.Y. ... Also played baseball at SUNY Cortland ... Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher played QB at SUNY Cortland from 2008-11 ... Last name is pronounced "BER-jess."

Last Updated July 2024