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Tulsa's pro day is tomorrow and standout linebacker Zaven Collins had his media session today. According to Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now, Collins said he's met with the Steelers and Mike Tomlin in a Zoom interview.
The Steelers have met with a lot of inside linebackers during the pre-draft process and Collins would certainly be a fit in the Steelers' defense. Collins paired with Devin Bush would be a lethal duo, as both possess incredible athleticism. It sure looks like the Steelers will target an inside linebacker in the draft, as Robert Spillane is their only other option next to Bush as of right now.
Collins has great size at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and he can run as well. On tape, he's always running to the ball and making great pursuit plays. It should be interesting to see what he runs in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.
A lot of teams in the draft will covet Collins' measurables, versatility and football IQ. In my opinion, he's a really good prospect and should excel at the next level. He would also look great in the black and gold and next to Bush in the Steelers' defense.
Below is a scouting report on Collins by The Draft Network.
"After a high school career in which Zaven Collins was a four-year starter at quarterback and linebacker/safety, Tulsa was the only Division I program to offer him a scholarship. He ended his college career by claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best defensive player. Collins offers an exciting blend of size, length, power, football intelligence, and versatility that makes him a dynamic prospect for the NFL. Whether it’s defending the run, dropping into coverage, or rushing the passer, Collins has the requisite skill set required to execute and was arguably the most dynamic defensive playmaker in college football for the 2020 season. He demonstrated notable growth in 2020, becoming a complete defender and making high-impact, clutch plays seemingly every week. The Belichick disciples and teams that deploy that style of defense are likely salivating over Collins’ skill set and he projects as an impact defender in the NFL that can make plays in a variety of ways."