Mo Collins (American football) facts for kids

Damon Jamal Collins (born September 22, 1976 – died October 26, 2014) was a talented American football player. Many people knew him by his nickname, Mo Collins. He played as an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons.

Before joining the NFL, Mo Collins played college football for the University of Florida. He was even part of a team that won a national championship! The Oakland Raiders picked him in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent his entire professional career playing for the Raiders.

Mo Collins' Early Life

Mo Collins was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1976. He went to West Charlotte High School in his hometown. There, he played high school football for the West Charlotte Lions team.

Mo was a very important player for the Lions. In 1993, he helped his team win the North Carolina 4A state championship. The Charlotte Observer newspaper even said he was one of the top five high school football players in North Carolina that year.

Mo's College Football Journey

Mo Collins earned a sports scholarship to attend the University of Florida. He played for the Florida Gators football team from 1995 to 1997. His coach was Steve Spurrier.

In 1994, Mo had a foot injury. Because of this, the Gators team decided to "redshirt" him. This meant he could practice with the team but not play in games that year. It allowed him to heal and keep his year of college eligibility.

The next season, Mo became a full-time starter. He was part of the 1995 Gators team that won all 12 of their regular season games. They played against the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the national title in the Fiesta Bowl.

In 1996, Mo's team had another amazing year. The Gators beat the Florida State Seminoles 52–20. This big win helped them become the national champions in the Sugar Bowl.

After his junior year in 1997, Mo decided to enter the NFL Draft. He chose to go professional instead of playing his final year of college football. Mo graduated from the University of Florida in 1998. He earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport sciences.

Mo's Professional NFL Career

The Oakland Raiders chose Mo Collins in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He was the twenty-third player picked overall. Mo played for the Raiders from 1998 to 2003.

During his six seasons in the NFL, Mo played in 71 regular season games. He started in 64 of those games.

Mo's Life After Playing Football

On February 7, 2014, Mo Collins became the head coach for the West Charlotte Lions football team. This was his old high school team.

Sadly, Mo Collins passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2014. He had been getting dialysis treatment because he suffered from kidney failure.

See also

• History of the Oakland Raiders
• List of Florida Gators in the NFL Draft
• List of University of Florida alumni