Personal Background

• First-Team All-Big 12, conference head coaches 2018
• Second-Team All-Big 12, Associated Press 2018
• Voted defensive MVP in 2018 by his teammates

Courtesy of TCU Football.

Injury History

• No significant injuries reported

Production

• 11.5 TFLs and 6 sacks in 2018
• Career game: 4 TFLs and 2 sacks vs Kansas State in 2018
• 4 pass deflections in 2018 and 1 INT in 2017

Film Reviewed

• Ohio State (2018)
• Oklahoma (2018)
• California (2018)

Combine Measurements and Testing

• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 283 lbs
• Hand: 10”
• Arm: 34”

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 sec
• Bench: 25 reps
• Vertical Jump: 30”
• Broad Jump: 118”
• 3-Cone: 7.71 sec
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.78 sec

Strengths

• Collier is a lengthy player with powerful hands and good upper body strength. He looks nimbler on film than his athletic testing numbers indicate.
• Showed position flexibility. He played primarily on the edge in TCU’s scheme, mostly from a two-point stance, but had regular snaps with his hand in the ground.
• He flashes upfield burst with good straight-line speed.

• Has the anchor to stalemate double teams and is capable of splitting them when he engages with a low pad level.
• Displays the play strength and technique to set the edge in the run game. Showcases a powerful punch and knows how to use his length to keep angle and base blockers at bay.

• Combines that length with a tenacious playing style. Moves with speed in pursuit, can track ball carriers through traffic, and shows a nice closing burst.

• Plays with active hands and is most proficient with his long-arm move. Is also competent with club, hump, and push-pull moves, showcasing solid to above average coordination and timing.

• Capable of converting speed to power against below average opponents when he uses consistent leg drive and is not overly reliant on his arm strength.

• Coming out of Gary Patterson’s system, Collier is well-versed in executing a multitude of pressure packages. His straight-line burst allows him to contribute on slants and various stunts.

Weaknesses

• Can be hit or miss against angle and reach blocks when he dips under blockers instead of using his hands to combat them.
• Although he flashes upfield burst and showcases hand usage skills, he lacks consistent flexibility to turn tight corners.

• He also tends to slow play or stutter-step on his pass rushes too often. For a man with his initial quickness, he’s better served with a more “get-off and go” mentality.

• He doesn’t use his push-pull move as often as he should. With his developed long-arm technique, a push-pull would be an effective counter or secondary move.

Overall

The Texas native is an intriguing, yet perplexing, prospect because he appears to flash pretty decent initial burst and speed on film but tested so poorly at the combine. It’s possible he’s simply not an explosive athlete at all, which is what his timed athletic drills say. He also didn’t appear as explosive in his last game compared to his earlier contests against Ohio State and Oklahoma. Teams across the NFL may be in a similar quandary about how they view the former Horned Frog, who could have a wider than normal draft range.

However, for those who believe his burst isn’t a mirage, Collier projects as a versatile player that can man both the edge in a two-point stance and inside as a hand-in-the-ground three-technique. He’s also capable of playing as a classic 4-3 defensive end if needed. The senior from Munday, TX would be a regular contributor his rookie year and should claim a starting spot by his third season. He’s someone teams can win with, and if he reaches his ceiling, will become a man teams win because of.

His length, explosiveness, and tenacity are his greatest assets right now. But for him to unlock his potential as a pass rusher, he must have a more consistent get-off. A one-gap defensive system that prioritizes penetration above reading and reacting to his opponent may be his best fit.

Ultimately, teams may rank Collier above a prospect like Boston College’s Zach Allen despite Allen’s more refined skillset and greater play strength. The main reason for this is because Collier shows the upfield burst that Allen apparently lacks. That means the TCU defensive MVP could hear his name called as early as the second round.

For critics who see Collier’s athleticism as more of a “trick of the light” than actual truth, he’ll be a day-3 pick. They’ll view him as a strong but stiff player who brings powerful hands and effort but inconsistent flexibility.

In the end, predicting where Collier lands could be a murky prospect.

 

You can follow Allan on Twitter at @AllanUy22