Zaven Collins Earns FWAA First-Team All-America Honors

DALLAS, Texas –– The University of Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins was named to the 2020 Football Writers Association of America All-America first team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, it was announced today by the magazine.

Since 1945, the FWAA team has been among the five used in the NCAA's selection of an annual consensus All-America team in college football. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.

Collins has also earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Sporting News, USA Today, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus and The Athletic.

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 has been named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the nation's top defensive player as voted on by the FWAA. He 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.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is presenting the All-America Team as part of what has been a season-long campaign to promote the 76-year history of this prestigious honor. Each All-American will receive a commemorative football and the first-team selections will be presented with a custom All-America watch.

Zaven Collins Earns FWAA First-Team All-America Honors

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