With the NFL Combine approaching, it’s time to look at the Arkansas players that will be participating. Former Hog running back Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams will be included in the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday. With Williams still limited due to his foot injury, we will focus on Alex Collins.
The 2016 NFL Draft is getting closer and closer. In just a couple of months, Arkansas Razorback football players will become members of the National Football League. That being said, there are a ton of festivities that lead up to the draft. The NCAA’s most elite draft eligible players have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which kicks off on Friday.
Luckily, we will be able to watch six of our very own Hogs participate in the combine workouts. First up on the list will be running back Alex Collins.
Collins decided to cut his collegiate career short when given the opportunity. I don’t blame him, the guy is ready to head to the next level. Budda finished out his junior season with 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns, and earned the feat of having three straight 1,000 yard seasons.
Ever since the announcing of his departure from Fayetteville and the collegiate level, there have been many critics appalled at the decision. The big claim is that there is just too much running back talent going into the draft this year. Waiting another year would have been better for Collins to boost his draft grade.
I say no. Heading into the draft this year was great timing. Not only is Collins ready physically, he’s ready mentally. He performed at the highest level he could being a freshman and sophomore backup, then he came in and absolutely took the leadership under his belt as a junior when Williams went out with the foot injury. With that nitty gritty, SEC competitiveness, Alex Collins made himself draft eligible.
However, the talent that Alex Collins is up against in this NFL Draft is no joke. With other draft eligible backs like heisman winner Derrick Henry and Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliot, it’s going to be tough. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be the first running back selected. There is still a ton of decisions yet to be made. That’s why this combine is so important. If Collins does well enough, he could surpass that other competition.
The only trouble that Collins has really run into with scouts so far is his ability to be a receiving back. In his time at Arkansas Collins caught just 27 passes, including only three in 2014. None of these catches turned into touchdowns, which is most likely where he’s running into trouble. We can only hope that his excellent vision and insane ability to cut through tacklers will outweigh the receiving game in a scout’s mind.
In preparation for the scouting combine, participants are asked questions by the media. Here’s the full press conference with Alex Collins.
A lot of people are wondering where Alex Collins will fall when his name gets called. I can honestly say that there are many possibilities, and it all depends on this combine. It could be the difference of rounds for Collins, which means a whole lot of difference in mulah. A lot of experts (which I am not one) are saying that if push comes to shove and Collins does indeed being the third or fourth running back taken in the draft that New England would be a good spot for him, seeing that they are in need of a strict power back.
A lot of pressure is sitting on Alex at the moment. Fingers crossed that everything goes well for the soon to be rookie.It’s pretty much coming down to a make-or-break performance at the combine that will determine his future in the NFL.
Tomorrow will answer a lot of questions in the eyes of the NFL scouts. But for us fans, it will answer the question…
Is he the best?
Henry?
— NFL (@NFL) February 24, 2016
Elliott?
Nah.
"I had a scout tell me HE is the top RB in the draft" (via @NFLNow ): https://t.co/6MT1mJy2KS pic.twitter.com/faPhJEFNdI
Miller: Two to three years from now, could Alex Collins be the best RB from this class? Absolutely.
— Bo Mattingly (@SportandStoryBo) February 25, 2016
.@RazorbackFB RB Alex Collins says hello from the #NFLCombine. pic.twitter.com/773U7Ww2CQ
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) February 24, 2016
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The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine will begin at 8:00 a.m. on the NFL Network. All running backs, offensive lineman and special team players. Other Razorbacks you will see tomorrow will be OL Sebastian Tretola and Denver Kirkland. We wish luck to every Hog at the combine.
Woo Pig and keep an eye out for the man with the dreads.