Seahawks Player Profile: Alex Collins
By Ben Renner
Alex Collins will throw his hat into the crowded ring of Seahawks running backs vying to back up Thomas Rawls this season after a record-setting year at Arkansas.
Alex Collins almost didn’t play for Arkansas at all. On National Signing Day in 2013, Collins was ready to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for the Razorbacks, but his mother, upset that her baby boy was going to move too far away from her, took the LOI and ran off with it. Fortunately for Collins, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema faxed another copy to Collins’ father, who signed it and allowed his son to play for the Razorbacks.
Alex Collins’ first two years for Arkansas were productive despite splitting carries with Jonathan Williams. His freshman year, Alex Collins became the first true freshman in the SEC to ever run for 300 yards in his first three games. He ran for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns his sophomore season, again splitting time with Williams.
Alex Collins was the lightening to Williams’ thunder. The two were a powerful tandem for Bielema and the Razorbacks for two seasons, culminating in a win over the Texas Longhorns in the Texas Bowl at the end of the 2014 season.
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Then Alex Collins got his time to shine. Williams suffered an injury before Collins’ junior year, opening the door for Collins to take over as Bielema’s lead back. Alex Collins took advantage, running for 1,577 yards and school-record 20 touchdowns. He became only the third running back in SEC history to run for 1000 yards or more in each of his first three seasons. Only Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden did it before Collins.
Alex Collins finished his distinguished college career by winning MVP honors in the Razorbacks’ Liberty Bowl victory over Kansas State in early 2016. He ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
Despite his “lightening” role at Arkansas, Alex Collins was viewed by many NFL scouts as a powerful, downhill runner in the mold of Chris Ivory. He has a nose for the goal line and has been consistently productive in his three years at Arkansas. However, Collins has been criticized for his inability to break tackles (only five over his last 475 carries), and his fumble issues (17 career fumbles, lost nine).
Alex Collins is perhaps a touch unpolished in some of his cuts in and out of running lanes, and he’s inconsistent and inexperienced in pass protection and pass catching. However, he’ll be a threat to take carries away from Rawls and company as we get closer to training camp. By the time the season starts, it’s a very real possibility that Collins could be the goal line and/or short yardage back for the Seahawks.
Next: Seahawks Player Profile: Germain Ifedi
The Seahawks’ approach to running back this year with Marshawn Lynch retiring (presumably) has been most interesting, and it will be all the more interesting to see who will get the bulk of the carries when the season starts in September. Alex Collins will likely be in the mix until the bitter end.