Nick Collins
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| Nick Collins | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 16, 1983 |
| Place of birth | Gainsville, Florida |
| Position(s) | Free safety |
| College | Bethune-Cookman College |
| NFL Draft | 2005 / Round 2 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2005-Present | Green Bay Packers |
Nicholas Cardell Collins (born August 16, 1983) is an American football free safety who currently plays for the Green Bay Packers.
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[edit] High school
Collins was a diverse athlete during his high school career. He attended Dixie County High School in Cross City, Florida, and lettered twice as a quarterback, running back and defensive back. Collins was also given first-team all-conference honors and was named team MVP as a senior. Collins also earned two letters as a basketball guard and three letters as a center fielder.
[edit] College
Collins attended Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida as a recreation major. He was forced to sit out the entirety of his freshman season in 2001 for failing to meet the guidelines of the NCAA's Proposition 48, which requires student athletes to have a minimum SAT score of 700, a minimum ACT score of 17, and a minimum GPA of 2.0 with at least 11 courses in core college courses.
In 2002, Collins spent the majority of the season as a reserve linebacker. He played in all thirteen games of the season, making his first two starts in the final two games of the season at the strong safety position. Collins finished the season with 35 tackles (22 solo), one interception, five defended passes, one fumble recovery and eight kickoff returns for 181 yards. His strongest statistical performance of the season was an eight-tackle game in his first start, against Florida A&M University, on November 23.
Collins became a full-time starter at free safety for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in 2003. He started 11 of the season's 12 games, missing only a November 15 contest against Howard University. Collins had a breakout season in 2003, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in interceptions with six and finished third in the conference in passes defended with 13. He also contributed 54 tackles (33 solo), a fumble recovery, and the first defensive touchdown of his college career (intercepting a pass by Norfolk State University quarterback Willie Mitchell and returning it 45 yards for the score). He was an all-conference selection for the season.
As a senior in 2004, Collins was an Associated Press third-team Division 1-AA All-America selection and first-team All-MEAC honors at the free safety position. He once again led the conference with six interceptions, led his team in solo tackles (34) and passes defended (13), and scored the second and final defensive touchdown of his collegiate career. Collins had an interception in each of the first four games of the 2005 season. He had a memorable performance in the final game of his college career, intercepting FAMU quarterback Ben Dougherty at the Bethune-Cookman 8 yard line with only 1:49 left in regulation, sending the game into overtime and to an eventual 58-52 double overtime Bethune-Cookman victory.
[edit] Professional
Collins entered the NFL on April 23, 2005 when he was selected in the second round (51st pick overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Collins would become only the second Bethune-Cookman player to make the Packers roster. Some draft experts felt that the Packers drafted Collins too high, referring to him as "a developmental prospect who is very athletic but very raw" and questioning his ability to fully grasp an NFL-caliber defense.
Though he was listed as a cornerback in the draft prospect list, Collins competed in Green Bay for the starting free safety job for the 2005 season. Collins would have large shoes to fill on the Packers roster; in 2004, the Packers free safety was Pro Bowl player Darren Sharper. At the beginning of the 2004 offseason, Sharper left the team over contract issues, eventually signing with the Minnesota Vikings and having another Pro Bowl season for 2005.
However, Collins showed the potential and ability that prompted Packers GM Ted Thompson to select him so early in the draft. He quickly became a physical and emotional presence on a defense which showed tremendous improvement after finishing 26th in overall yards allowed during the 2004 season and in spite of the struggles the Packers faced in their first losing season since 1991. Collins recorded his first notable game on October 30, 2005 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins had four total tackles and two passes defended, including a crushing blow to star wide receiver Chad Johnson that forced him to drop a pass from quarterback Carson Palmer and a near interception of Palmer that Collins could have returned for a game-changing touchdown.
Collins did record his first interception three weeks later, in a Monday night showdown with the Vikings on November 21. He also recorded a then season-high 11 tackles in the game (8 solo). The interception was an athletic catch which displayed both Collins' physical prowess and his instincts.
Collins finished the 2005 season as an unquestioned starter and defensive leader. His total season statistics: 84 tackles (63 solo), one interception, two forced fumbled and seven passes defended.
[edit] Personal
Collins is single and lives in Cross City, Florida. While in college, Collins volunteered at elementary schools and at the YMCA in Daytona Beach. He has also been an instructor at a passing camp for children ages 6 to 15. He has a one-year old daughter, Jenajah.
