La'el Collins facts for kids
Collins with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017
|
|||||
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 26, 1993 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 315 lb (143 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Redemptorist (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
||||
| College: | LSU (2011–2014) | ||||
| Undrafted: | 2015 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
|
|||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
|
|||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
|
|||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||
La'el Collins (born July 26, 1993; pronounced /lɑːʔˈɛl/) is an American professional football player. He plays as an offensive tackle. He played college football at LSU. In 2014, he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. This award recognizes the best offensive lineman in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Collins joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 as an undrafted free agent.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
La'el Collins grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He went to Redemptorist High School. During his last three years there, he was named to the Louisiana 3A All-State team.
In his senior year, Collins helped his team reach the state quarterfinals. They lost to Patterson High School. After the season, he played in the Under Armour All-America Game. He was also named an All-American by Parade and USA Today.
Experts thought Collins was one of the best offensive tackle players in 2011. He was ranked very highly by Rivals.com and ESPN. Many top college teams wanted him to play for them. These included Auburn, Florida State, and Southern California. But Collins decided early to play for Louisiana State in September 2009.
College Football Career at LSU
Starting Out: Freshman and Sophomore Years
In 2011, as a true freshman, Collins played in seven games for LSU. He didn't start any games. He played 46 snaps on the offensive line and made five knockdown blocks. After the season, CBSSports.com named him a Freshman All-American.
As a sophomore, Collins became a starter. He played all 13 games for LSU as a left guard. He led the team in total snaps (836) and knockdowns (64.5). He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week once. This was after a game against #1 Alabama. Collins played every offensive snap in LSU's last eleven games. He earned honorable mention All-SEC honors.
Moving to Left Tackle: Junior and Senior Years
For his junior season, Collins moved to left tackle. He quickly got used to his new spot. He earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors again. This was after a game against Texas Christian. Collins started twelve games at left tackle that year.
LSU's offense had a great season. They gained a school-record 465.9 total yards per game. They also scored a school-record 37 rushing touchdowns.
Collins decided to stay at LSU for his senior year instead of entering the 2014 NFL Draft. He started all 13 games at left tackle. He led the team in offensive snaps (843) and knockdowns (88). The Tigers' offense rushed for 224.5 yards per game. This was their best rushing average since 1997.
After his senior season, Collins won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. This award goes to the best offensive lineman in the SEC. He was the first LSU player to win it since 2009. Collins was also named First-team All-SEC. Both USA Today and AP named him second-team All-American.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Dallas Cowboys (First Time)
La'el Collins was expected to be a top pick in the 2015 NFL draft. However, he was not drafted by any team. On May 7, 2015, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. His first contract was for three years and was fully guaranteed.
He started his first season as a backup offensive guard. But he soon became a starter at left guard. He played well and earned his spot. He missed the last game of the season due to an ankle injury.
In 2016, Collins started the season as the left guard. However, he got a torn ligament in his right big toe in the third game. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season. He played in only three games that year.
In 2017, Collins moved to right tackle. This was the position he played in college. He became the starter for the season. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Cowboys. He started all 16 games at right tackle that year.
In 2018, he started all 16 games at right tackle again. He helped the team's offense succeed. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for over 4,000 yards. Running back Ezekiel Elliott led the league in rushing yards.
On September 3, 2019, Collins signed a new five-year contract with the Cowboys. He started 15 games at right tackle that season. He missed one game due to a knee injury. The offensive line played very well, allowing only 23 sacks, which was one of the fewest in the league.
In 2020, Collins faced some injuries. He was in a car accident that caused a neck injury. He also had hip and groin problems. On September 7, 2020, he was placed on injured reserve. He missed the entire season.
In 2021, Collins faced a suspension from the league. He returned to play in Week 7. He eventually regained his starting right tackle position. He started 10 of the 12 games he played that season. In March 2022, the Cowboys allowed Collins to look for a trade. On March 17, he was released by the team.
Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
On March 20, 2022, Collins signed a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He reunited with his former coach, Frank Pollack. Collins started the season on the non-football injury list due to a back injury. This injury affected him throughout the season.
In a game against the New England Patriots, he suffered a torn left ACL and MCL injury. This injury ended his season. He started 15 games at right tackle for the Bengals. He was placed on the injured reserve list on December 30.
Collins started the 2023 season on the physically unable to perform list. He was released by the Bengals on September 12, 2023.
Return to the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills
On January 2, 2024, Collins was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. His contract ended when the team's season finished on January 14, 2024.
On April 9, 2024, Collins signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. He was released by the Bills on August 27 as part of their final roster cuts.
|
