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Nick Collins
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Nick Collins
Safety/Cornerback
Bethune-Cookman
5'11" - 206 lbs.
OVERVIEW
With the departure of All-American Rashean Mathis two years ago, the Wildcats were looking for a big-play specialist for their secondary. Nick more than filled that order, as the versatile defender established himself as one of the best pass thieves in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks.
The Dixie County High School product was a Proposition 48 casualty in 2001 at Bethune-Cookman. He started two games at strong safety in 2002, recording 35 tackles (12 solos) with a sack, two stops for losses, an interception and five pass deflections. He also had eight kickoff returns for 181 yards (22.6 avg) while playing in thirteen games that year. Nick shifted to free safety in 2003, earning All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference honors as he totaled 54 tackles (33 solos) with a fumble recovery, six interceptions and twelve pass break-ups.
The Cross City native would again earn All-MEAC honors as a senior. He collected 55 tackles (34 solos) with a fumble recovery, thirteen pass deflections and six interceptions for 108 yards in returns. In 34 games with the Wildcats, Nick registered 144 tacklers (79 solos), a 6-yard sack and 3.5 stops for losses of 23 yards while starting 23 games. He recovered three fumbles and caused another. Collins had thirty pass deflections and thirteen interceptions for 192 yards in returns with two touchdowns. He also gained 215 yards on ten kickoff returns (21.5 avg).
ANALYSIS
Has very good overall muscle development, V-shaped upper torso, with broad shoulders and chest...Adequate in man coverage, mirroring the receiver's moves while maintaining position as the play develops...Effective jamming his man in press coverage... Allows little cushion off the line of scrimmage and shows above average straight-line speed and adequate change of direction...Shows some looseness in his hips, turning fluidly coming out of his backpedal...Will play the ball in the air, keeping eye contact on the pass and a hand on the receiver...Has the acceleration to run ball carriers down... Adjusts and times his jumps to get to the ball at its high point, showing natural hands to extend away from the body's frame in order to make the interception...Still a work in progress as a tackler, but does stay low making wrap-up tackles in space...His straight-line acceleration, leaping ability and marginal play recognition skills could see him shift outside to cornerback in the pros (plays the man better than the ball).
CAREER NOTES
2004 SEASON
All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report...All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference first-team choice...Started every game at free safety...Recorded 55 tackles (34 solos) with an assisted stop for a 1-yard loss...Recovered a fumble and deflected 13 passes...Had six interceptions for 108 yards in returns and a touchdown...Added 34 yards on a pair of kickoff returns.
2004 GAME ANALYSIS
Arkansas-Pine Bluff...Opened the season with four solo tackles, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery and an interception...Recovered a fumble by Justin Bass on a kickoff return in the third quarter that set up a scoring drive that was capped by a 9-yard touch- down run by Wildcats tailback Chauncey
Hampton...Picked off an Antoni Lovelady pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Grambling State...Picked off a pass, deflected another, had four solo tackles and returned two kickoffs for 34 yards.
Norfolk State...Batted away three passes, intercepted another in the fourth quarter and was in on five tackles (3 solos).
Morgan State...Returned an interception 55 yards with 0:30 left in the first half and had ten tackles with an assisted stop for a 1-yard loss and two pass break-ups.
Delware State...Followed with two pass deflections and three tackles.
South Carolina State...Returned an interception 15 yards and posted five tackles (3 solos).
North Carolina A&T...Had another five hits (3 solos) and two pass break-ups.
Hampton...Delivered four tackles (3 solos).
Howard...Was in on six stops (3 solos).
Florida A&M...Registered nine tackles (5 solos) with two pass deflections and closed out his career by intercepting a Ben Dougherty pass in the fourth quarter.
2003 SEASON
All-MEAC selection...Lined up at free safety in eleven games...Recorded 54 tackles (33 solos) with a stop for an 8-yard loss and a fumble recovery...Intercepted six passes for 84 yards in returns with a touchdown...Also deflected twelve passes.
2003 GAME ANALYSIS
Savannah State...Started the season with five tackles, a 4-yard interception return and a pass deflection.
Alabama State...Blocked a PAT attempt in the third quarter and returned it for a score (two points)...Batted away a pass and posted six tackles (4 solos).
Florida International...Had a 35-yard interception return, a pass break-up and three solo tackles.
Norfolk State...Intercepted a pair of passes, returning one 45 yards for a touchdown...Also registered four tackles and two deflected passes.
South Carolina State...Had another two interceptions, four tackles and two pass break-ups.
North Carolina A&T...Collected eight tackles (5 solos), stopping tailback Frank Patterson for an 8-yard loss and batted away a pass.
Hampton...Added two pass deflections and ten tackles (5 solos).
Howard...Did not play (undisclosed/not on injury or suspension report).
Florida A&M...Recovered a fumble and had five tackles (3 solos).
2002 SEASON
Played in thirteen games, starting the final two contests vs. Florida A&M and Georgia Southern at strong safety...Finished with 35 tackles (12 solos), a 6-yard sack and two stops for losses of 14 yards...Caused and recovered a fumble...Intercepted a pass and deflected five others...Returned eight kickoffs for 181 yards (22.6 avg).
2002 GAME ANALYSIS
Morris Brown...Returned a kickoff 32 yards, made two tackles and sacked QB Ralph Gordon for a 6-yard loss.
Norfolk State...Caused a fumble and was in on two hits.
Morgan State...Posted four tackles, including one that stopped QB Brad Littlejohn for an 8-yard loss on a draw play...Recovered a fumble by receiver Willie Sherman...Also had a pass deflection and two kickoff returns for 38 yards.
Delaware State...Followed with five tackles and a 27-yard kickoff return.
Howard...Credited with two tackles and his first career interception.
Florida A&M...Totaled a season-high eight tackles (5 solos) and batted away a pass in his first career start.
2001 SEASON
Sat out the year under NCAA Proposition 48 rules.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.34 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided)...4.44 40-yard dash (against the wind, 10 mph)...275-pound bench press...350-pound squat...205-pound power clean...36-inch vertical jump...
Right-handed.
COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
4.37 in the 40-yard dash...2.63 20-yard dash...1.62 10-yard dash...4.16 20-yard shuttle...11.15 60-yard shuttle...6.94 three-cone drill...40-inch vertical jump...9'10" broad jump...Bench pressed 225 pounds 11 times...31-inch arm length...8 _-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered as a defensive back and running back at Dixie County (Cross City, Fla.) High School, playing football for coach Brett Wilkerson...Also lettered in basketball and track.
PERSONAL
Physical Education major...Father was a quarterback at Bethune-Cookman...Born 8/16/83...Resides in Cross City, Florida.
| DEFENSIVE STATISTICS |
| Year |
GP |
GS |
TK |
SO |
AS |
FR |
FC |
INT |
TFL |
PBU |
SK |
BK |
| 2002 |
13 |
2 |
35 |
12 |
23 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2-14 |
5 |
1-6 |
0 |
| 2003 |
11 |
11 |
54 |
33 |
21 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1-8 |
12 |
0-0 |
1 |
| 2004 |
10 |
10 |
55 |
34 |
21 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
.5-1 |
13 |
0-0 |
0 |
| Total |
34 |
23 |
144 |
79 |
65 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
3.5-23 |
30 |
1-6 |
1 |
| INTERCEPTION RETURNS |
KICKOFF RETURNS |
| Year |
NO |
YARDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
NO |
YARDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
| 2002 |
1 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
181 |
22.6 |
0 |
32 |
| 2003 |
6 |
84 |
14.0 |
1 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2004 |
6 |
108 |
18.0 |
1 |
55 |
2 |
34 |
17.0 |
0 |
23 |
| Total |
13 |
192 |
14.8 |
2 |
55 |
10 |
215 |
21.5 |
0 |
32 |
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