Hard Hitting LB Is National Stock
Junior to Watch: Jed Collins
School: Mission Viejo, Calif.
Advertisement
Position: Middle Linebacker
Size and Speed: Collins stands 6-foot-3, weighs 240 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.8. His bench is 295, squat 470 and cleans 285. Collins recorded 30-inch vertical, benched 185 pounds 24 times and ran a 4.17 shuttle at the Nike camp held at USC in early April.
Honors: Collins was selected League Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state underclassman, first-team all-CIF and first-team all-County as a junior.
Statistics: Collins racked up 113 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six fumbles caused, six deflected passes, four fumble recoveries and two sacks.
Favorite Colleges: Collins is hearing from schools on a national basis. Notre Dame, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas State, USC, UCLA, Washington and Washington State are just a sampling of the fine institutions that are showing interest in the fine linebacker from Orange County, Calif.
Skinny: Collins was a key ingredient for Mission Viejo’s CIF Division II championship run. An intelligent football player Collins is like a coach on the field. He calls all the defensive plays and makes sure everyone in lined up in the right place and on the same page.
Like a quarterback at the line of scrimmage, Collins is required to make snap decisions before the snap depending upon what the offense shows its formation, Collins makes his read. It is his responsibility to call a blitz or any other defensive package.
Being smart is only one of the many talents that Collins possesses. He is a big guy who is very explosive and quick. He’s renowned hitter and he really brings the wood to the shed.
What is Collins looking for in a College?
“First off, I’m going to college to get an academic degree,” Collins said. “The major that I’m going into is the study of law, so I want to go to a school with an excellent law program.”