Football Spotlight on Zaven Collins
8/14/2019 2:24:00 PM | Football
Spotlight on Zaven Collins . . .
#23 Zaven Collins • 6-4 • 256 • Sophomore • Linebacker
As a red-shirt freshman last season, Zaven Collins earned Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today. He played in all 12 games with 10 starts and racked up 85 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. The Hominy, Okla., native had five games with at least 10 tackles, including a season-high 14 stops against Arkansas.
My favorite part of football ...
Just being able to go out and compete every day and get to know your brothers. Football is something that allows you to meet people all around from different ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds. Everyone comes together to focus on one main goal and I think that's pretty special.
My focus going into the season ...
Just trying to focus on my body, focus on playing to the best of my ability every down and taking nothing for granted.
In high school ...
In high school, I ran track and then played basketball and baseball along with football. I played a bunch of positions in baseball. Third base, shortstop, pitcher, center field and left field. Center field was probably my favorite. Lot of room to run and got to throw some people out from the outfield. In track, I ran the 4x400m, the mile relay, long-jump and shot-put."
My hashtag going into the season would be ...
#UnlimitedOpportunity … One of my friends was in a dark place at one point in his life and I told him that life presents you with unlimited opportunity every day. You can either take it for granted or you can do something with it. I think that's just something I want to live by for the rest of my life."
My favorite NFL team is ...
I've never really had a favorite NFL team. I've always kind of been a bandwagon fan and jumped around. I've been watching the Cleveland Browns and paying attention to their fall camp. I really like them and I know they are loaded this year.
My favorite NFL players are ...
Khalil Mack (Chicago Bears), Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers) and Von Miller (Denver Broncos) ... guys like that who are real savvy players and know their stuff.
The show I'm currently binging right now...
I really don't watch a lot of shows. Off and on, I'll watch "The Office" just as something to watch when I get bored.
My favorite class at TU ...
Both of my human anatomy classes and my human anatomy labs.
On aspirations to become a doctor ...
I want to go into a general practice, basically a family practitioner or maybe pediatrician. I'd like to be in a rural area and try to help out people that really can't afford to go to a big city for the medical care that they need. I think that would be a big boost to a small community."
My hobbies outside of football are ...
I have a bunch of hobbies. I like to hunt, fish, golf or anything really. Golf was my big one this year. I shot an 86 at Tulsa Country Club and I've shot an 81 at LaFortune so those were a few of my better rounds.
On participating in gymnastics as a kid...
I traveled all over Oklahoma and some other states to compete. It was me, my mom and grandmother and I just did it for fun. I think I just wanted to have fun with the sport, but I did win some medals and loved to win. There were times where we had some scheduling conflicts and I'd compete in gymnastics in the morning then drive somewhere and go play baseball.
On what I took away from that experience with gymnastics how it can be applied to the football field ...
No matter what you do, just try the best to your abilities. It's hard to conceive that as a young kid and understand that. Some people still don't understand it. Life is way too short to half-step or half-do anything. I think some people say that you can't be rich unless you start halfway there or can't get out of the poverty you're in. I think if you just put your mind to anything, you'll do whatever you want. Your mind is the most powerful thing in this universe. You just have to put your mind to it, and you'll be able do it."
I've been told that I have a very distinct, deep voice …
Someone asked me if I wanted to be in news because I had a good voice. I do not want to be on the news. I can't do that.
My Twitter handle ...
@ZavenCollins
Players Mentioned
Linebacker
/ FootballTuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 19
Monday, May 04