2021 NFL Draft 1st round: 18th pick
2020 was quite the year for Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins.
Zaven Collins is one of the greatest to ever put on a Tulsa uniform.
— Tulsa Football (@TulsaFootball) January 8, 2021
🌟 Freshman All-American
🌟 30 game starter
🌟 Bednarik Award 🏆
🌟 Nagurski Trophy 🏆
🌟 10 First Team All-American Honors
🌟 2nd Consensus All-American in TU History#ReignCane 👑🌀 #HuntForTheCrown pic.twitter.com/GhZwjsKrz8
The best way to describe Collins’ playing style would be a relentless playmaker.
He was truly a game-changer for Tulsa in his entire time there, but he was on another level in the 2020 season.
He racked up 54 total tackles in eight games with 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns.
Moreover, Collins is probably the quintessential linebacker when it comes to the types of players who have come through the Patriots’ systems, and while Brian Flores is obviously on his own in Miami now, he still employs the type of defense he helped run in New England.
Collins can play standing up as an off-ball linebacker or put his hand in the ground and get after the quarterback. He can blitz, he can cover, and he can play the run.
We’ll have to wait and see how his athletic numbers turn out, but he has great tape and three years of it, to boot.