Nico Collins

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Nico Collins

| image = Nico Collins 2019.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Collins with the Michigan Wolverines in 2019

| current_team = Houston Texans

| number = 12

| position = Wide receiver

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|19}}

| birth_place = Pinson, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 222

| high_school = Clay-Chalkville {{nowrap|(Birmingham, Alabama)}}

| college = Michigan (2017–2020)

| draftyear = 2021

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 89

| pastteams =

Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present)

| status = Active

| highlights =

Pro Bowl (2024)

| statseason = 2024

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 218

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 3,230

| statlabel3 = Receiving average

| statvalue3 = 14.8

| statlabel4 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue4 = 18

| pfr = CollNi00

}}

Dominique Stephon "Nico" Collins (born March 19, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Texans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early life

Collins was born and raised in Pinson, Alabama, the youngest of three children.Dunne, Tyler (October 27, 2023). [https://www.golongtd.com/p/a-star-is-born-nico-collins A star is born: Nico Collins.] Go Long. His father, Don Collins, a Michigan native, worked as a surgical tech, and his mother worked in human resources. In his youth, Collins played AAU basketball. He attended Clay-Chalkville High School in Clay, Alabama, where he played wide receiver on the undefeated football team that won the 2014 Class 6A state championship.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-06 |title=Former Clay-Chalkville state champion Nico Collins returns to Michigan for senior season |url=https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2020/01/06/former-clay-chalkville-state-champion-nico-collins-returns-to-michigan-for-seniorseason/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Trussville Tribune |language=en}} As a junior, he caught 60 passes for 1,103 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a senior, he had 43 receptions for 865 yards and 9 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins - Football |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/nico-collins/19005 |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=University of Michigan Athletics |language=en}} In February 2017, Collins committed to play football at Michigan over Georgia and Alabama.{{Cite web |last=Kirshner |first=Alex |date=February 1, 2017 |title=4-star WR Collins picks Michigan over Bama, Georgia |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2017/2/1/14391150/nico-collins-commitment-national-signing-day-2017-michigan-alabama-georgia |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Casagrande |first=Michael |date=December 30, 2019 |title=Why star Birmingham WR chose Michigan over Alabama |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/12/what-drew-star-recruit-from-birmingham-to-michigan-instead-of-alabama.html |access-date=January 5, 2020 |website=A:.com |language=en}} His paternal grandparents live near Ann Arbor, Michigan.AL.com (August 16, 2016). [https://www.al.com/sports/2016/08/a-list_no_2_nico_collins_michi.html A-List No. 2: Big Clay-Chalkville receiver Nico Collins 'different and special.']

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry|40=4.50|recruit=Nico Collins|position=WR|hometown=Birmingham, Alabama|highschool=Clay-Chalkville High School|feet=6|inches=5|weight=197|commitdate=February 1, 2017|scout stars=4|rivals stars=4|247 stars=4|espn stars=4}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End|40=yes|year=2017|rivals ref title=Michigan Football Commitments|espn ref title=ESPN|rivals school=Michigan|espn schoolid=130|rivals overall=120|247 overall=138|espn overall=150|accessdate=January 4, 2020|bball=|247Sports ref title=Nico Collins}}

College career

In 2017, Collins enrolled at the University of Michigan. On October 12, 2017, Collins made his first collegiate reception on a 12 yard pass against Rutgers. As a freshman, he appeared in two games and had three receptions for 27 yards.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nico-collins-1/gamelog/2017 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He had a breakout season in his sophomore year of 2018, earning the Most Improved Offensive Player, finishing the season with 38 receptions for 632 yards and six touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nico-collins-1/gamelog/2018 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Breiler |first=Christopher |date=April 30, 2021 |title=BREAKING: Nico Collins Selected In Third Round |url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-nico-collins-jim-harbaugh-nfl-draft-michigan-wolverines |access-date=June 1, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} In 2018 he had four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State.{{Cite web |last=McMann |first=Aaron |date=February 18, 2019 |title=Michigan WR Nico Collins can capitalize on breakout sophomore season |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2019/02/michigan-wr-nico-collins-can-capitalize-on-breakout-sophomore-season.html |access-date=January 5, 2020 |website=mlive.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Michigan at Ohio State Box Score, November 24, 2018 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2018-11-24-ohio-state.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} On November 23, 2019, Collins had a career-best 165 receiving yards and three touchdowns against Indiana.{{Cite web |title=Michigan at Indiana Box Score, November 23, 2019 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2019-11-23-indiana.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Despite playing alongside Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black and Ronnie Bell, Collins was second on the team in receiving yards in 2019, with 37 receptions for 729 yards and seven touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nico-collins-1/gamelog/2019 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2019 Michigan Wolverines Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/2019.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

= College statistics =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|Team ! rowspan="2" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|{{tooltip\|G\|Games}} ! colspan="4" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|Receiving
style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|Rec !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|Yds !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|Avg !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Michigan Wolverines}}" \|TD
2017 \|2 \|3 \|27 \|9 \|0
2018 \|13 \|38 \|632 \|16.6 \|6
2019 \|12 \|37 \|729 \|19.7 \|7
2020 \| colspan="5" \|Opted-out due to the COVID-19 pandemic
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nico-collins-1.html Career] !27 !78 !1,388 !17.8 !13

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! rowspan="2" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Team

! rowspan="2" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |{{tooltip|G|Games}}

! colspan="4" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Receiving

style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Rec

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Yds

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |Avg

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan Wolverines}}" |TD

2017

|27

2018

|13

|38

|632

|16.6

2019

|12

|37

|729

|19.7

2020

| colspan="5" |Opted-out due to the COVID-19 pandemic

[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/nico-collins-1.html Career]

!27

!78

!1,388

!17.8

!13

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 4 1/8

| weight = 215

| dash = 4.45

| ten split = 1.55

| twenty split = 2.63

| shuttle = 4.32

| cone drill = 6.79

| vertical = 37.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 5

| bench = 14

| arm span = 34 1/8

| hand span = 9 3/8

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/nico-collins/3200434f-4c65-4119-2a51-095ba724d414 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2022 Draft Scout Nico Collins, Michigan NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021959&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}

}}

=2021 season=

Collins was drafted 89th overall by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last1=Ablauf |first1=Dave |last2=Shepard |first2=Chad |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Mayfield, Collins, Thomas Selected in Third Round of NFL Draft |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/4/30/football-michigan-2021-nfl-draft-day-two.aspx |access-date=April 30, 2021 |website=MGoBlue.com}} On May 12, Collins officially signed with the Texans.{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Ben |date=May 12, 2021 |title=NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/21 |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/05/nfl-draft-pick-signings-51221#ref=home |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Rumors}}

Heading into his first training camp, Collins was listed as a starting wide receiver alongside veterans Brandin Cooks and Chris Conley. Again at the end of the NFL preseason, head coach David Culley named Collins a starting wide receiver, alongside Cooks and Conley.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans Depth Chart Archive |url=https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/249/HOU |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Ourlads.com}}

Collins made his first career start and NFL debut in the Texans' Week 1 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded one reception for seven yards.{{Cite web |title=Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans - September 12th, |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202109120htx.htm |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Collins again started in the Texans' Week 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns, where he recorded one reception for 32 yards before exiting early in the first quarter with a shoulder injury.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns - September 19th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202109190cle.htm |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Collins was placed on injured reserve on September 21.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (9-21-2021) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-9-21-2021 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=HoustonTexans.com}} He was activated on October 16, and returned to start the Texans' Week 6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2021 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (10-16-2021) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-10-16-2021 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=HoustonTexans.com}}{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Aaron |date=October 16, 2021 |title=Texans' Laremy Tunsil placed on IR, Nico Collins activated |url=https://sportstalk790.iheart.com/content/2021-10-16-texans-laremy-tunsil-placed-on-ir-nico-collins-activated/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=SportsTalk 790 |language=en}} In Week 14 against the Seattle Seahawks, Collins recorded five receptions for 69 yards and caught his first career touchdown pass during the Texans' Week 16 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans - December 12th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202112120htx.htm |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Drew |date=December 27, 2021 |title=Nico Collins breaks through for his first career TD {{!}} Daily Brew |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/nico-collins-breaks-through-for-his-first-career-td-daily-brew |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=HoustonTexans.com |language=en-US }}

Overall, Collins finished his rookie season appearing in 14 games (8 starts) and recorded 33 receptions for 446 yards and one touchdown while playing in just over half of the Texans' offensive snaps on the season.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollNi00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans 2021 Snap Counts |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/htx/2021-snap-counts.htm |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

=2022 season=

Collins entered the 2022 season as the Texans No. 2 receiver behind Brandin Cooks.{{Cite web |title=Houston Texans Depth Chart Archive |url=https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/262/HOU |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Ourlads.com}} He finished the season with 37 catches for 481 yards and two touchdowns, playing in ten games, including seven starts.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollNi00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On December 23, Collins was placed on season–ending injured reserve with a foot injury.{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Mark |date=December 23, 2022 |title=Texans place WR Nico Collins on injured reserve; make 2 other roster moves |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/texans/2022/12/23/texans-place-wr-nico-collins-on-injured-reserve-make-2-other-roster-moves/51100519/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

=2023 season=

During Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Collins finished with 146 receiving yards and a touchdown as the Texans lost 31–20.{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans - September 17th, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202309170htx.htm |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In a Week 4 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Collins set new single-game career highs with seven receptions for 168 receiving yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans - October 1st, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202310010htx.htm |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, Collins would top his single-game career highs in yardage and receptions once again, finishing with nine receptions for 191 receiving yards, adding a touchdown as the Texans won 22–17.{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at Houston Texans - December 3rd, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202312030htx.htm |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In a win-or-go-home scenario against the Colts in Week 18, Collins caught all nine of his targets for a career-high 195 yards and a career-long 75-yard touchdown in a 23–19 win, clinching the Texans a playoff spot for the first time since 2019.{{Cite web |last=Dajani |first=Jordan |date=January 7, 2024 |title=Colts vs. Texans score: C.J. Stroud , Nico Collins lead Houston to playoff berth with win over Indianapolis |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/colts-vs-texans-score-cj-stroud-nico-collins-lead-houston-to-playoff-berth-win-win-over-indianapolis/live/ |access-date=January 7, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com}} He appeared in 15 games and made ten starts in the 2023 season. He had 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Nico Collins 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollNi00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He finished the season 8th in the league in receiving yards,{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Receiving |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/receiving.htm |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en-US}} and tied 4th in receptions of 20 or more yards.{{Cite web |title=NFL.com {{!}} Official Site of the National Football League |url=https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/receiving/2023/REG/all/receiving20plusyardseach/DESC |access-date=January 22, 2024 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}

Collins had a receiving touchdown in the Texans' 45–14 victory over the Browns in the Wild Card Round.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans - January 13th, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202401130htx.htm |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}

=2024 season=

On May 29, Collins agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Texans, worth a maximum of $75 million, with $52 million guaranteed.{{Cite web|last=Edholm|first=Eric|date=May 28, 2024|title=Texans signing WR Nico Collins to three-year, $72.5 million extension|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-signing-wr-nico-collins-to-three-year-72-5-million-extension|access-date=May 29, 2024|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Houston Texans Transactions (05-29-2024) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-05-29-2024 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=HoustonTexans.com}} Collins led the league with 567 receiving yards before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. On October 9, the Texans placed Collins on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Bien-Aime |first=DJ |date=October 9, 2024 |title=Texans put Nico Collins, NFL's receiving yards leader, on IR |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41698432/texans-put-nico-collins-nfl-receiving-yards-leader-ir |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=ESPN}} He was activated from IR on November 9.{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-wr-nico-collins-hamstring-activated-from-injured-reserve-remains-questionable-vs-lions |title=Texans WR Nico Collins (hamstring) activated from injured reserve, remains questionable vs. Lions |last=Gonzales |first=Christian |website=NFL.com |date=November 9, 2024}}

NFL career statistics

=Regular season=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2021	HOU \| 14 \|\| 8 \|\| 33 \|\| 446 \|\| 13.5 \|\| 32 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2022	HOU \| 10 \|\| 7 \|\| 37 \|\| 481 \|\| 13.0 \|\| 58 \|\| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2023	HOU \| 15 \|\| 10 \|\| 80 \|\| 1,297 \|\| 16.2 \|\| 75T \|\| 8 \|\| 1 \|\| 0
2024	HOU \| 12 \|\| 12 \|\| 68 \|\| 1,006 \|\| 14.8 \|\| 67T \|\| 7 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2" \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollNi00.htm Career]	51	37	218	3,230	14.8	75T	18	1	0

=Postseason=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2023	HOU \| 2 \|\| 2 \|\| 11 \|\| 164 \|\| 14.9 \|\| 38 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
2024	HOU \| 2 \|\| 2 \|\| 12 \|\| 203 \|\| 16.9 \|\| 41 \|\| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollNi00.htm Career]	4	4	23	367	16.0	41	2	0	0

References

External links

{{footballstats|espn=4258173|yahoo=33477|nfl=nico-collins|cbs=2878193/nico-collins/}}

[https://www.houstontexans.com/team/players-roster/nico-collins/ Houston Texans bio]
[https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/nico-collins/19005 Michigan Wolverines bio]

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:Houston Texans players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Michigan Wolverines football players

Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama

Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players