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Published May 25, 2021
Georgia DB eager to visit Michigan State, other finalists
Paul Konyndyk  •  Spartans Illustrated
Associate Editor

Covington (GA) Newton cornerback Audavion Collins (5-11, 165) is hoping to wrap up the recruiting process sometime in mid-summer after taking official visits to several of the schools recruiting him the hardest at this point in the process.

Collins, who is ranked No. 82 in Georgia by Rivals.com, has set three official visit to Michigan State (June 11), Tennessee (June 18), and Oregon State (June 25) thus far. He is also trying to find time to take an official visit to Indiana, while also looking at attending one-day camps at Georgia and Alabama, respectively.

“I am really looking forward to the official visits,” Collins said. “It’s going to be good to see what the schools outside of Georgia are like. I will be looking at the facilities, talking to players to see what they like about the program. I am just looking forward to hanging out with the players, and hanging out with the coaches and getting to know how they are in person.”

Collins has scholarship offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon State, Tennessee, Arizona, Boston College, Cincinnati, Kansas, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State and Washington State among others.

Collins lists Michigan State, Tennessee, Oregon State, and Indiana as the programs recruiting him the hardest.

“I hear from those coaches every single day,” Collins said. “They’ll text me every single day and tell that they are keeping me in mind, and that they want me to be at their school.”

Although he is focused on the schools recruiting him the hardest, Collins isn’t closing doors on other would-be recruiters.

“I am looking at a group of schools, but I also want to keep my options open,” he said. “I don’t want to close doors on anyone that wants to recruit me at this point. All of the schools recruiting me are real close, and it’s going to be tough decision.”

Collins has no issue playing at a school a considerable distance from his home in Georgia.

“I want to play for a school that is going to be best for me and is going to get the best from me,” Collins said. "Playing away from home isn't a problem for me."

Michigan State has been actively pursuing Collins since extending a scholarship offer last October.

“They offered me during the season,” Collins explained. “The offer came right before I got on the bus to play our game at McEachern. It was a big surprise to me. It came out of nowhere and I was shocked. I think that they had talked to my DB’s coach and communicated with him before they offered, but I wasn’t expecting it. It was a shock, a good shock.”

Michigan State likes Collins’ all-around skillset at the corner position and the Spartans also like his physicality around the line of scrimmage in relation to his size.

“They like how I am at the line and how physical that I am being 165,” Collins said. “That’s pretty much what all of the coaches say.”

Collins describes himself as a technique-sound corner.

“Technique will get you far,” he said. “I try to focus on my technique from play-to-play, and let the rest play out.”

Michigan State has gone above and beyond with its recruiting effort.

“They have been amazing,” Collins said. “Everybody is going to get a part of it and work together to get you down there. The coaches work together and they’re like a family. I really like that about Michigan State.”

Collins has built a strong rapport with Michigan State secondary coach Harlon Barnett.

“Coach Barnett is a cool dude,” Collins said. “He is a cool, chill dude, and I like talking to him and he is a funny guy. He is also joking around and having fun.”

Collins has also built a strong relationship with Tennessee corners coach Willie Martinez.

“Me and him talk a lot, just chopping it up,” Collins said. “He is a cool coach too. He is also going to let you know what it is and keep it really with you.”

Oregon State defensive backs coach Blue Adams has also made a strong impression on Collins.

“He is another amazing dude,” Collins said. “He is in contact with me every day. All of them other guys too.”

Indiana head coach Tom Allen has taken a personal role in the recruitment of Collins.

“He’ll send me paragraphs every day,” Collins said. “Sometimes he’ll send me some Godly stuff. He’ll ask me about my day, and talk about stuff outside of football.”

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