FORMER SACRED HEART CAPTAIN BRINGS COLLEGIATE STARTING EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE TO ATHENS

COLE DE MAGISTRIS JOINS ATHENS CRUSH FOR INAUGURAL 2027 SEASON

ATHENS, Ga. — October 29, 2026 — The Athens Crush have signed offensive lineman Cole De Magistris, adding size, versatility, and experience to the roster as the team prepares for its inaugural season in the Indoor Football League (IFL).

De Magistris, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Emerson, New Jersey, brings experience at both the NCAA Division I FCS and Division III levels, along with professional experience that includes a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

“We’re excited to add Cole to our offensive line,” said Crush Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Rob Keefe. “He has experience competing at a high level, understands what it takes to be a dependable offensive lineman, and brings a strong work ethic and football intelligence to our roster. His experience at Sacred Heart, where he was a team captain, speaks to the leadership qualities we value as we build this team.”

De Magistris spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he started all 23 games over two seasons. A team captain as a graduate student in 2025, he helped the Pioneers win consecutive Yankee Conference Cup championships. Sacred Heart finished sixth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 217 yards per game.

Before joining Sacred Heart, De Magistris played at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, from 2021 through 2023. He appeared in 21 games for the Bobcats and served as a team captain during his final two seasons.

De Magistris graduated from Bates in 2024 with a double major in Economics and Rhetoric and Film and Screen Studies. He received the school’s Senior Scholar Award for maintaining a grade-point average of at least 3.50 while participating in varsity athletics for four years. He was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, one of college football’s premier scholar-athlete honors.

His football experience has extended beyond the college game. In March 2026, De Magistris signed a professional contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He also previously interned with the Minnesota Vikings in fan enga