Cole Bullock felt at home in Oxford.
The tight knit atmosphere around the Ole Miss cross country guys was enough to sell him on becoming a Rebel.
When it was time to make a decision, the choice was a no-brainer. Bullock wanted to be a part of a close team.
"My deciding factor was seeing how focused everyone was," Bullock told us earlier this week. "They all were very closely knit and were there to succeed as a team."
Team success was important throughout Bullock's process of finding a school. A big reason why he was so fixated on team success had to do with his own high school career.
He hasn't been able to prepare for races and train with a large team. Bullock mostly flies solo.
He's anxious to be a part of a group that cares so much about winning as a team on a big stage.
"This is something I have never had the privilege to and I look forward to pushing myself further with a group of guys that have the same goal in mind," he said. "They all treated each other like family and with respect and did the same for me."
The coaching staff and facilities impressed Bullock the most on his visit. He also took a visit to Florida State, and was still considering a few other schools. But he told us that his trip to Oxford changed his perspective on things.
The Red Bank senior has lofty goals for his final season in high school. And rightly so.
He was the only Tennessee boy to break 15 minutes in cross country this past season.
To start the 2019 indoor track season, Bullock ran a 4:16 mile to win the KYA HS Indoor Classic a few weeks ago. That places him 18th in the country right now.
His cross country season was a terrific one as well. Bullock placed 21st at Foot Locker Nationals and third at a historically fast state meet.
He's hungry for more this winter and spring.
"I would like to go sub 4:10 in the mile this indoor season," he said. "Going into outdoor, I would really like to run a fast 800 as well as break 9 minutes in the 2 mile."
Bullock hasn't chosen a major yet, but plans to study business at Ole Miss.
