Elijah Collins, Oklahoma State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/26/22 - RB Elijah Collins, rSr/2024, Oklahoma State

In an age of college football where it's easy to leave, it's remarkable that Elijah Collins has stayed. After all, we're talking about a guy who was Michigan State's featured running back three years ago, rushing for close to 1,000 yards as a redshirt freshman, under a different coaching regime, and, who, in the two years since, has battled injury and illness and watched a new staff bring in four different transfer running backs to replace him. And yet, Collins doesn't see his journey through that lens. "For me, I've seen what Coach Tuck (Mel Tucker) is trying to do here," Collins said last week. "From the very jump, it's been clear. The first day he came in, he said he wanted to go out and make a statement and really bring Michigan State to that next level. I mean, I feel that as well. I was here when Coach D (Mark Dantonio) was here. Things have changed. But it's all for the better. And I could see that progression. So it's really something I wanted to be a part of. Because I know if anything's going to come from it, it's going to be something good."

Perhaps Collins should be the advisor that greets every athlete at the gates of the transfer portal. It's unclear what Collins' role will be this MSU football season. The depth chart, reading the tea leaves, appears right now to begin with Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger. Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard is expected to play a significant part, too. Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson mentioned junior Jordon Simmons on Thursday, as well. Collins, 2021 Auburn transfer Harold Joiner and redshirt freshman Davion Primm are also battling for carries. It's hard not to root for Collins. He's been through it - a tough and lingering bout with COVID-19 in 2020 that pretty much sunk his season, then a lower leg injury after a promising series of carries in his debut last season during the second game of MSU's season. - Lansing State Journal

rSr/2024