In 2016, Collins was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl team. Collins and defensive tackle Damon Harrison were the first Giants selected first-team All-Pro since defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in 2011…Collins was the first Giants safety to play in the Pro Bowl since Antrel Rolle in 2013.
2018 [GIANTS]: Played in 12 games, starting in all for the fourth straight season… Recorded 96 tackles (67 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss with one forced fumble, four passes defended and two quarterback hurries en route to his third-straight Pro Bowl selection… Made five tackles (four solo) and a pass deflection vs. JAX [9/9]… Credited with six tackles (five solo) at DAL [9/16] … Registered six tackles (three solo) and a defensed pass in win at HOU [9/23]… Tied his career-high in tackles (14, nine solo) for the third time vs. NO [9/30], alongside a pass defensed… Added eight more tackles (four solo), a quarterback hurry and a defensed pass against CAR [10/7]… Notched 10 tackles, eight unassisted and one for loss against PHI [10/11]… Contributed eight tackles, seven solo at ATL [10/22]… Made five tackles (four solo) with two stuffs, a tackle for loss and forced a fumble vs. WAS [10/28]… Compiled nine tackles (seven solo) at SF [11/12]… Led the Giants to a close three-point win vs. TB [11/18] with 11 tackles [five solo] and a half-stuff for three yards… Earned nine tackles (seven solo), two tackles for a loss of five yards and a quarterback hit at PHI [11/25]… Ended the season with an overtime win at CHI [12/2] and five tackles (four solo), one for a loss.
2017 (GIANTS): Started each of the first 15 games… Chosen as a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl team as the sole Giants player elected… Became the first Giants defensive back to be chosen for two Pro Bowls since safety Antrel Rolle (2010, 2013), and the first to be selected in consecutive years since Mark Haynes went to three in a row from 1982-84… Fractured his forearm at Arizona [12/24], and was placed on injured reserve two days later… When he did not play in the season finale vs. WAS [12/31], it ended his team-long starting streak at 47 games plus one playoff game… Before the injury, he had started every game in his three-year career… Led the Giants in tackles for the third consecutive season with 99 tackles (74 solo)… Made five tackles (3 solo) with a pass deflection at DAL [9/10]… Added seven more tackles (six solo) vs. DET [9/18]… Contributed nine tackles (six solo) and forced a fumble at PHI [9/24]… Made seven more tackles (five solo) with a quarterback hurry and two deflected passes at TB [10/1]… Had eight solo tackles vs. LAC [10/8]… Intercepted a Trevor Siemian pass and returned it 21 yards at DEN [10/15]… Registered five tackles (4 solo) and a fumble recovery against SEA [10/22]… Notched seven tackles (five solo) vs. LAR [11/5]… Made seven tackles with assistance on five at SF [11/12… Earned his third career NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award after registering 14 tackles (10 solo) and an interception in a 12-9 overtime victory over KC [11/19]… Registered another 14-tackle performance (season-high 12 solo) at WAS [11/23]… Added seven tackles (six solo) both at OAK [12/3] and vs. DAL [12/10]... Contributed seven tackles (six solo) at OAK [12/3] and DAL [12/10]… Finished the season with a tackle against PHI [12/17] and a solo tackle at ARI [12/24].
2016 (GIANTS): Started all 16 games and the NFC Wild Card game… Led the team in tackles for aconsecutive season with 125 (100 solo), the most by a safety in Giants history… Also had five interceptions, 4.0 sacks and 13 passes defensed… Became the first NFL safety with over 100 tackles, at least five interceptions and at least 3.0 sacks since Rodney Harrison, then with San Diego Chargers, in 2000… Was the only NFL player in 2016 with at least five interceptions and at least 4.0 sacks… Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performances in Week 7 against the LAR in London with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and eight solo tackles, and in Week 9 vs. PHI with 12 tackles and an interception… Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in consecutive games, the first NYG player to do so and the first player in the NFL to achieve the feat since Charles Tillman in 2012, and the first safety since Troy Polamalu in 2010… Was the only NFL player to lead his team in tackles, sacks and interceptions… First Giants player with at least four interceptions and 3.0 sacks in the same season since cornerback Jason Sehorn in 1996… Named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November when, in four Giants victories, he had 30 tackles (23 solo), including 1.0 sack and three interceptions. Was the first to win the award since Jason Pierre-Paul in December 2011 and the first Giants safety to be honored… Opened the season with six solo tackles and one pass defended in a victory at DAL [9/11] … Had his first career sack vs. NO [9/18], a 5-yard takedown of Drew Brees that ended the Saints’ second possession. Became the first Giants safety to register a sack since Craig Dahl in 2015… Registered eight tackles (5 solo) and a pass defended vs. WAS [9/25]… Notched 10 tackles, nine unassisted with a tackle for loss at MIN [10/3]… Followed with seven tackles (six solo) and a defensed pass at GB [10/9]… Recorded a 10-yard sack of quarterback Joe Flacco and led the Giants with a then career-high 12 tackles (10 solo), including two for losses, vs. BAL [10/16]… Scored the Giants’ first defensive touchdown of the season when he intercepted a Case Keenum pass that was tipped by wide receiver Tavon Austin and reached the end zone after a 44-yard return in London against LAR [10/23]. Was the Giants’ first touchdown by a defensive player since cornerback Trevin Wade in 2015, and the Giants’ first interception return for a touchdown since Trumaine McBride in 2015. Also registered another inter(6 solo) and sacked Wentz for a 12-yard loss. Became the first Giants player with an interception and a sack in the same game since defensive end since Kerry win in 2014… Had five solo tackles and an interception vs. CIN [11/14], giving him at least one interception in each of three consecutive games. Was the first Giants player with 4 interceptions in a three-game span since Phillippi Sparks in 1997… Added six unassisted stops and another pick of Jay Cutler vs. CHI [11/20]. Intercepting at least one pass in each of four consecutive games tied a Giants record since the NFL merger. His five interceptions in that four-game span allowed him to become the first Giants player to accomplish the feat since Willie Williams in 1968… Contributed seven tackles (six solo) against CLE [11/27]… Registered seven tackles (four solo), half a tackle for loss and three pass deflections at PIT [12/4]… Added six tackles (four solo) and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery vs. DAL [12/11]… Had eight tackles (seven solo) vs. DET [12/18]… Notched nine solo tackles at PHI [12/22]… Picked up his fourth sack of the season when he dropped Kirk Cousins for a 12-yard loss on the second-tolast of the first quarter at WAS [1/1]. His 4.0 sacks led all NFL safeties… Recorded nine tackles (six solo) and a sack in his postseason debut in the NFC Wild Card Game at GB [1/8].
2015 (GIANTS): Started all 16 games at free safety as a rookie, the team’s first defensive rookie to start every game since tackle Barry Cofield in 2006… Posted four tackles (two solo) in his NFL debut at DAL [9/13]… Recorded six tackles in each of the next four games, including six solo stops vs. ATL [9/20]… Also had four solo stops and two pass deflections against WAS [9/24] and four solo stops against BUF [10/4] alongside one stuff and a pass deflection… Notched six solo stops vs. SF [10/11]… Compiled five tackles (four solo) with a tackle for loss of four yards, his first career pick, intercepting Sam Bradford and a pass deflection at PHI [10/19]… Marked a season-high vs. DAL [10/25] with nine tackles (six solo)… Matched the season-high the following week at NO [11/1] with four solo tackles… Added five tackles, four unassisted, a quarterback hurry and a deflection at TB [11/8]… Registered five tackles (four solo) and a deflection vs. NE [11/15]… Contributed eight tackles (seven solo), two tackles for loss and a special teams tackle at WAS [11/29]… Had seven tackles (six solo), one on special teams with a pass defended in an overtime loss against NYJ [12/6]… Made seven tackles, five unassisted and one on special teams with a deflection at MIA [12/14]… Matched his season-high for the third time with nine tackles (seven solo) and a defensed pass vs. CAR [12/20]… Finished out his rookie season with eight tackles in his final two games at MIN [12/27] where he also added a deflection and seven solo tackles, one on special teams, and vs. PHI [1/3] with four solo tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss.
Collins played in 41 games with 23 starts at Alabama…Career totals included 190 tackles (120 solo), 8.5 stops for losses of 22 yards, 4 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions for 103 return yards, 13 yards on a blocked punt return and 55 yards on 3 kickoff returns…Also deflected 13 passes and forced 3 fumbles…In 2014, his junior and final collegiate season, Collins was named a unanimous first-team All-America (The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association, American Football Coaches Association, AP and Sporting News)... Led the nation’s 6th-ranked scoring defense (18.4 points per game)…First-team All-SEC selection by the AP and league coaches…Finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Awards, as well as the Lott Trophy…Started all 14 games at strong safety and led the team with 103 tackles (60 solo), including 4.5 stops for losses of 15 yards… Collins was just the 9th defensive back to lead the Tide in tackles during a season…His 103 stops broke the school position record of 94 tackles by Rashad Johnson in 2007…Recovered 2 fumbles and forced 1…Deflected 7 passes and led the Tide with 3 interceptions for 14 yards in returns…Also returned 3 kickoffs for 55 yards…As a sophomore in 2013, played in 13 games with 9 starts – 6 at strong safety and 3 at dime back – and finished 2nd on the team with 70 tackles (52 solo), 2 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles and 10 special teams tackles…Intercepted 2 passes, including 1 he returned 89 yards for a touchdown vs. Tennessee, the 5th-longest runback in school history… In 2012, played as a reserve in all 14 games, recording 17 tackles (8 solo) and blocking a punt that he advanced 13 yards.
Sports Studies major…Son of April Justin and Thomas Collins…Born and raised in New Orleans…Football and track star at Dutchtown High School in Geismar, La… In football, he was a first-team All-America defensive back…In his junior season, Collins posted 102 tackles and intercepted 4 passes and earned a Class 5A All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association…As a senior, Collins rushed for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns on just 87 carries 14.0-yard avg.)…In the defensive backfield, he had 34 tackles with 4 interceptions, returning 2 for touchdowns…Collins became the first player in LSWA history to earn 5A All-State honors on both sides of the ball…He earned All-America honors by Parade and USA Today…Was regarded as one of the state’s top sprinters…At the 2011 Josten’s Invitational, Collins ran the 2nd leg on the 4x100-meter squad, helping lead them to victory and setting a new school record at 41.10 seconds…Won the 100-meter dash at the 2012 Episcopal 4-Way Championships, with a personal-best time of 10.28 seconds…Also posted a career-best time of 21.60 seconds in the 200-meter dash at the 2012 Josten’s Invitational, where he placed first…At the LHSAA Class 5A State Championships, Collins, despite a strained hamstring, ran the 2nd leg on the 4x200-meter squad, helping them claim the state title with a time of 1:25.40 minutes.
