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.
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.
