Zaven Collins Named AP First-Team All-American

NEW YORK, NY –– The University of Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins received first-team Associated Press All-America honors, it was announced today. The last first-team AP All-American for Tulsa was offensive lineman Jerry Ostroski in 1991.

Last week, Collins earned the award for the nation's top defensive player when he was named the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy award-winner.

At 6'4", 260 pounds, Collins has become one of the most dynamic defenders in college football. He has totaled 54 tackles, 11.5 TFLs for minus 49 yards, four sacks for minus 25 yards, four interceptions for 152 return yards, two TDs off INTs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, as well as one safety, in eight games. Two of Collins' interceptions were game-clinchers, including a pickoff against No. 19 SMU that ended any possible final scoring drive for the Mustangs and his pick-6 in overtime against Tulane that he took 96 yards for the game-winning score.

Collins was unanimously chosen as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to earn unanimous player-of-the-year honors, and also receiving unanimous first-team all-AAC accolades.

Throughout the season, Collins earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors four out of seven weeks and was a three-time National Defensive Player of the Week selection. In four games against top-25 opponents this season –– #11 Oklahoma State, #11 UCF, #19 SMU and #6 Cincinnati –– Collins had 25 solo tackles among his 35 total stops and 10 TFL's for minus 45 yards, four sacks and two interceptions.

Other Tulsa players earning Associated Press first-team All-America honors were Glenn Dobbs (1942), Marvin Matuszak (1951, '52) and Howard Twilley (1965).

Zaven Collins Named AP First-Team All-American

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