2021 NFL Draft: The Zaven Collins star is born vs. Oklahoma State

Tulsa’s Zaven Collins put himself firmly on the 2021 NFL Draft map.

Tulsa’s football program put a couple of talented defensive players into the NFL in the 2020 NFL Draft in fourth-round pick Reggie Robinson (Cowboys) and fifth-round pick Trevis Gipson (Bears), and they could be poised for an even higher selection in the 2021 NFL Draft with Zaven Collins.

Collins has been productive in his first couple of seasons with the Golden Hurricanes, racking up 182 total tackles as a freshman and sophomore with 17.5 tackles for loss, but only 3.5 sacks.

Collins had found other ways to impact pass plays with an interception and six passes defended as well, but it was only a matter of time before the sacks started coming in bunches.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have discovered that the hard way in the early goings of the 2020 college football season.

Before he had to be taken to the locker room for fluids, Collins was dominating the Oklahoma State offensive line by exceeding his season-high of sacks already with a pair against the Cowboys.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Collins is an edge defender with excellent size who can absolutely fly around the field.

As evidenced by his nearly 200 tackles in two college seasons, this is a guy who doesn’t just set the edge and take up blocks — he makes a lot of plays and a lot of them behind the line of scrimmage.

The 2021 NFL Draft is not short on potential playmakers off the edge. There’s certainly not a Chase Young or Nick Bosa, truly no. 1 overall pick type of prospect right now, but there are plenty of guys who are going to have good professional careers and Collins is a guy on a really solid trajectory.

Without a college football season, does this type of player get the NFL attention he deserves? I’m not so sure and I’m glad we’re not having to find out. It’s great to see college football back and players like Collins using the opportunity to really boost and elevate his stock.