U-D Jesuit RB Collins talks MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin and others
NORTHBROOK, Ill. - Michigan State has only seven publicly-known scholarship offers out to uncommitted in-state players, and athlete Elijah Collins is one who has had a firm offer for a long period of time.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Collins, a three-star prospect from Detroit Jesuit High, was a standout performer at the Chicago Under Armour All-America Camp regional event on Sunday at Glenbrook North High School.
Michigan State is recruiting him as a running back, but he also has plus ability as a linebacker.
Collins’ size, frame and straight-line speed show up in his highlight film, and proved to be an asset at the Under Armour Camp, which tests running backs in agility drills, and also out of the backfield in the receiving game. There are no handoffs or chances to break tackles at the summer camps.
“The ball came my way kind of a lot,” Collins said. “I was able to get to the outside and get vertical, and get to the seams and cut back on little angle routes.
“In the majority of the drills, I tried to lead the group of guys I was with.
“In one-on-ones and pass skeleton I thought I did well on that too so hopefully I will get invited to the Under Armour All-American Game.”
As for chances to hook up with Michigan State QB commitment Theo Day, Collins wasn’t sure if he was able to do so.
“I might have gotten a couple of passes from him but I’m not sure,” he said.
Collins ranks second in the state among uncommitted recruits in terms of number of major conference scholarship offers. In addition to Michigan State, he has offers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Purdue. Purdue is the most recent to offer.
“During the winter I visited Iowa, Michigan State a few times,” Collins said. “This spring I visited Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
“Wisconsin, it was a great place. I loved the atmosphere. I talked to all the coaches and got to know them a little bit.
“Notre Dame kind of reminds me of my school, actually. They are a Catholic school and they offer a lot of things that my school does.
“Iowa, it was a cool experience because I got down there to watch them play Michigan and that was a great game, a great battle between two very good teams.
“Michigan State, I’ve been there four or five times. I’ve met with Coach Dantonio. It’s a great school it’s really close to home. The distance between them and my family and the people that grew up with me and my support group is close, and that’s important to continue to have those people as a support group close to you.
“Overall, the Michigan State campus is great. It’s big, it’s lively, the people are nice and the coaching staff does a great job in what they do.”
He attended two games last fall and also attended the Michigan-Michigan State basketball game in February as part of an MSU Junior Day.
He did not get a chance to attend an MSU spring practice.
“I am in contact with Michigan State coaches two or three times a week, a text once in a while, conversations back and forth,” he said. “I have heard from Coach Dantonio a few times. He’s a well-spoken guy with a great history at Michigan State, a great history in winning.”
Collins has also struck up an acquaintance with former Spartan running back great and current MSU recruiting intern Javon Ringer.
“Coach Dantonio and Javon say Michigan State is a great place that is close to home, and with me growing up watching them play a lot, they said it’s a place where I could do well, just like Le’Veon Bell,” Collins said.
Collins is planning to camp at Notre Dame in June, and the adidas Three Stripe Camp in Columbus, Ohio on May 13. He said a trip to California for USC’s camp is also a possibility.
“Next for me would have to be a process of narrowing down my list of schools to make it more manageable,” he said. “Some of the schools I do like, but at the end of the day I’m not going to end going there and you can’t keep talking to all of them.”