ARKANSAS FOOTBALL

Collins chooses UA over Miami

Analyst: ‘That’s super big’

One of the nation's best running backs, Alex Collins has committed to Arkansas.
One of the nation's best running backs, Alex Collins has committed to Arkansas.

— Arkansas picked up a big oral commitment from highly recruited running back Alex Collins on Monday night.

Collins, 5-11, 210 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of South Plantation,Fla., High School picked the Hogs over Miami, Florida, Florida State and Wisconsin during The New College Football Show: Next Class on Fox Sports South.

A four-star recruit according to national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network, Collins made an official visit to Wisconsin when Coach Bret Bielema and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge were with the Badgers. He made an official visit to Fayetteville on Jan. 25.

But it was Arkansas’ offense and coaching staff that swayed him to Fayetteville.

“I like the fact they run the ball,” Collins said. “I personally know the coaches. I’ve been recruited by them for two years. I feel like I can trust them. I feel like they can get me to where I want to be at the next level athletically and academically.”

More from WholeHogSports

http://www.wholehog…">List of 2013 commitments

Collins played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, Calif., on Jan. 4, where he was teammates with Fayetteville High School quarterback Austin Allen, who committed to Arkansas last fall along with teammates Brooks Ellis and Alex Brignoni.

Collins was named the Broward County Player of the Year as a junior, his first year to play high school football, when he rushed 228 times for 1,786 yards and 28 touchdowns in Class 8A, the highest classification in Florida.

“I have a speed style, and I have a power style, and I have an elusive style,” said Collins, who rushed for 1,400 yards while missing three games as a senior. “I like to be different and I never want to bring the same thing to the table every time I run the ball. I like to change it up.”

Lemming, who has more than 30 years of experience on the national recruiting scene, said the Hogs got one of the nation’s premier play makers.

“That’s super big,” Lemming said. “He’s one of the more active offensive players in the nation. He can create out in space. He has great vision. He has surprising strength. He’s guy you would love to see on offense because he creates a lot of offense. Anytime he has the ball in his hands he’s exciting. “

Collins is Arkansas’ 21st for the 2013 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Sports, Pages 19 on 02/05/2013

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