Zaven Collins Earns First-Team Sporting News All-America Honors

NEW YORK, NY –– Another honor came in for Tulsa's Zaven Collins as the linebacker was named to the Sporting News All-America first team, it was announced today by the magazine.

A day after being named to the Associated Press All-America first team, Collins earned the Sporting News honor. He has also been named first-team All-America by USA Today, CBS Sports, The Athletic and Pro Football Focus. By being named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, Collins is automatically a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA). The FWAA will announce its entire All-America team on Wednesday, December 30 in coordination with the Cotton Bowl.

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 pick-off 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 is also being considered for the Chuck Bednarik Award as one of three finalists for the top defender award and was the runner-up for the Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker.

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.

Zaven Collins Earns First-Team Sporting News All-America Honors

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