Zaven Collins
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Zaven Collins
| image = Zaven Collins.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Collins with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in 2020
| current_team = Arizona Cardinals
| number = 25
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|5|19}}
| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 260
| high_school = Hominy (Hominy, Oklahoma)
| college = Tulsa (2017–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 16
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2020)
- Chuck Bednarik Award (2020)
- Lombardi Award (2020)
- Unanimous All-American (2020)
- AAC Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
- First-team All-AAC (2020)
- Second-team All-AAC (2019)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek = 9
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 203
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 8.5
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 12
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 = 2
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 = 1
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 = 1
| pfr = CollZa00
}}
Zaven Collins (born May 19, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning several defensive player of the year awards in 2020. Collins was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Collins was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 19, 1999, and later attended Hominy High School in Hominy, Oklahoma.{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Kelly |date=April 29, 2021 |title='Stay your path': How TU's Zaven Collins developed from an under-the-radar recruit into one of the best players in college football |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/tu/stay-your-path-how-tus-zaven-collins-developed-from-an-under-the-radar-recruit-into/article_04c0f0ac-2ec3-11eb-8a17-b730428bced0.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Tulsa World}}{{Cite web |last=Buettner |first=Joe |date=January 8, 2017 |title=All State football: Zaven Collins does it all for state champion Hominy |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5533521/all-state-football-zaven-collins-does-it-all-for-state-champion-hominy/ |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Oklahoman.com}} He played quarterback, linebacker and safety in high school. During his career, he had 4,084 rushing yards with 54 touchdowns and passed for 3,056 yards and 32 touchdowns. He committed to the University of Tulsa to play college football.
College career
After redshirting his first year at Tulsa in 2017, Collins played in 12 games and started 10 in 2018. He had 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Kelly |date=November 14, 2018 |title=Zaven Collins goes from under the radar in Hominy to standout linebacker at TU |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/tusportsextra/zaven-collins-goes-from-under-the-radar-in-hominy-to-standout-linebacker-at-tu/article_d42a5d0c-097c-561c-bea4-0790f4b686e5.html |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Tulsa World}} As a sophomore in 2019, he started all 12 games, recording 97 tackles and two sacks.{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Kelly |date=August 25, 2020 |title=TU linebacker Zaven Collins combining skill and effort in pursuit of dominance |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/tu/tu-linebacker-zaven-collins-combining-skill-and-effort-in-pursuit-of-dominance/article_53852798-fcc1-5d38-ae0d-ac27425e0baa.html |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Tulsa World}} Collins returned to Tulsa in 2020, where he was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player,{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2020 |title=Zaven Collins Wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy |url=https://tulsahurricane.com/news/2020/12/23/football-zaven-collins-wins-bronko-nagurski-trophy.aspx |access-date=December 23, 2020 |website=University of Tulsa Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Kelly |date=January 7, 2021 |title=TU linebacker Zaven Collins wins Bednarik Award as nation's top defensive player |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/tu/tu-linebacker-zaven-collins-wins-bednarik-award-as-nations-top-defensive-player/article_2ea42ea6-5147-11eb-8bbf-7f20a18b49fb.html |access-date=January 8, 2021 |website=Tulsa World}}{{Cite web |last=Haisten |first=Bill |date=November 17, 2020 |title=For the surging Golden Hurricane, a special player and a special coordinator |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/tu/bill-haisten-for-the-surging-golden-hurricane-a-special-player-and-a-special-coordinator/article_e0903830-2901-11eb-8266-57ca0c30ddde.html |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Tulsa World}}{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Robert |date=September 17, 2020 |title=Player to be Aware of: Tulsa Linebacker Zaven Collins |url=https://www.si.com/college/oklahomastate/football/zaven-collins-is-tulsa-footballs-best-defensive-player |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=SI.com}} as well as the Lombardi Award.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Nathan |date=February 17, 2021 |title=TU's Zaven Collins wins Lombardi Award |url=https://www.fox23.com/sports/tus-zaven-collins-wins-lombardi-award/D7Z4Y7DGM5CEXDIGY7TVRGZ32A/ |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=Fox23}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Tackles ! colspan="4"| Interceptions ! colspan="3"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sack | PD | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR | TD |
| 2017 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tulsa Golden Hurricane}}"| 2017 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
| 0 || 0 || colspan="11"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}} | ||||||||||||
| 2018 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tulsa Golden Hurricane}}"| 2018 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
| 12 || 10 || 85 || 42 || 43 || 1.5 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tulsa Golden Hurricane}}"| 2019 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
| 12 || 12 || 97 || 51 || 46 || 2.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tulsa Golden Hurricane}}"| 2020 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
| 8 || 8 || 53 || 35 || 18 || 4.0 || 2 || 4 || 152 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| align=center colspan="2" |[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/zaven-collins-1.html Career] || 32 || 30 || 235 || 128 || 107 || 7.5 || 8 || 5 || 152 || 2 || 2 || 3 || 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 7/8
| weight = 259
| dash = 4.65
| ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.78
| shuttle = 4.36
| vertical = 35
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| bench = 19
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33 5/8
| hand span = 9 3/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Zaven Collins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zaven-collins/3200434f-4c71-2276-ee5d-d6185f3c66ad |access-date=March 5, 2021 |website=nfl.com}}{{Cite web |title=Tulsa OLB Zaven Collins : 2021 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1024641&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=May 5, 2021 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424100746/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105138 |title=Zaven Collins 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=April 16, 2023}}
}}
Collins was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Cardinals Pick Zaven Collins in First Round Of 2021 Draft |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/zaven-collins-nfl-draft-linebacker-tulsa-cardinals-2021 |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=AZCardinals.com}} He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $14 million, on June 8, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Top Cardinals Pick Zaven Collins Signs First NFL Contract |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/top-cardinals-pick-zaven-collins-signs-first-nfl-contract |access-date=June 10, 2021 |website=AZCardinals.com}}
Collins entered his rookie season in 2021 as a starting inside linebacker alongside Jordan Hicks and Isaiah Simmons. He was relegated to a backup role midway through the season, playing the third-most snaps of the inside linebackers. He finished the season with 25 tackles and three passes defensed through 17 games and six starts.{{Cite web |title=Zaven Collins 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollZa00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In Week 9 of the 2022 season, Collins had a 30-yard interception returned for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.{{Cite web |last=Werner |first=Barry |date=November 6, 2022 |title=Zaven Collins pick-six gives Cardinals the lead over Seahawks |url=https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2022/11/06/zaven-collins-pick-six-gives-cardinals-the-lead-over-seahawks/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=Touchdown Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} In the 2022 season, he appeared in 16 games and finished with 100 total tackles (63 solo), one interception, six passes defended, and one forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Zaven Collins 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollZa00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In the 2023 season, Collins finished with 3.5 sacks, 41 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.{{Cite web |title=Zaven Collins 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollZa00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} On April 30, 2024, the Cardinals declined the fifth-year option on Collins' contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Cardinals Decline To Pick Up Zaven Collins Option |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-decline-to-pick-up-zaven-collins-option |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=AZCardinals.com}} On August 3, 2024, Collins and the Cardinals agreed to a two–year, $14 million contract extension.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=August 3, 2024 |title=Zaven Collins Gets Contract Extension Through 2026 |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/zaven-collins-gets-contract-extension-through-2026 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=AZCardinals.com}} In the 2024 season, Collins finished with five sacks, 57 tackles, and one pass defended.{{Cite web |title=Zaven Collins 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollZa00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=NFL career statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions ! colspan="3"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | TD | |
| 2021 | ARI
| 17 || 6 || 25 || 13 || 12 || 0.0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | ARI
| 16 || 16 || 100 || 63 || 37 || 2.0 || 0 || 6 || 1 || 30 || 30.0 || 30 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | ARI
| 17 || 17 || 41 || 27 || 14 || 3.5 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 1 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | ARI
| 17 || 17 || 57 || 33 || 24 || 5.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollZa00.htm Career] | 52 | 41 | 177 | 109 | 68 | 6.5 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Personal
Collins was arrested in Arizona for speeding and reckless driving in June 2021; he was released from custody within an hour.{{Cite news |last=Weinfuss, Josh |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Arizona Cardinals rookie LB Zaven Collins arrested for excessive speed, reckless driving |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31681725/arizona-cardinals-rookie-lb-zaven-collins-arrested-excessive-speed-reckless-driving |access-date=July 7, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Twitter|ZavenCollins}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=33404|espn=4244606|nfl=zaven-collins}}
- [https://www.azcardinals.com/team/players-roster/zaven-collins/ Arizona Cardinals bio]
- [https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/football/roster/zaven--collins/9503 Tulsa Golden Hurricane bio]
{{Arizona Cardinals roster navbox}}
{{Navboxes|title=Zaven Collins—awards and honors|list=
{{Lombardi Award}}
{{Bronko Nagurski Trophy}}
{{Chuck Bednarik Award}}
{{2020 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2021 NFL Draft}}
{{CardinalsFirstPick}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 2021 draft navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Zaven}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:People from Hominy, Oklahoma
Category:Sportspeople from Osage County, Oklahoma