ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

The St. Mary’s High senior linebacker was saddened last September when the Archdiocese of St. Louis announced the school would close at the end of the academic year.

But in December, the archdiocese handed St. Mary’s a three-year lease. Collins, part of two consecutive Class 4 state-championship teams, was staying home.

“It was kind of scary for a lot of us,� Collins said of the school’s potential closing. “We didn’t have a plan. We thought we would come to St. Mary’s, do our four years and that would be it. We had a brotherhood; we all wanted to play with each other. I’m glad they decided to not (close the school).�

Now the Dragons (12-2), under new coach Brian Simmons, are ready to pursue another title. Collins believes it’s within reach, despite the departure of former coach Ken Turner and the graduation losses of 16 seniors, including running back Jamal Roberts (Missouri), receiver Donovan McIntosh (Kansas State) and leading tacklers Gabe Booker and Kaliel Brown.

“I’m looking forward to it,� said Collins, who played mostly defensive end last season and registered 70 tackles, 25 for losses, and six sacks. “As of right now, everybody is counting us out because we lost a lot of seniors, so they don’t think we’ll be as good as we were the past few years. I’m trying to prove everybody wrong. I feel like we’ll be a pretty good team.�

The 6-foot, 240-pound Collins was at his dominant best in the Dragons’ 42-0 victory over St. Dominic in the Class 4 championship game. He had four tackles, one for a loss, shared a sack and knocked down four passes at the line of scrimmage. Despite the first-team all-stater’s performance at defensive end, Simmons prefers to play him at linebacker.

“He did a great job at (defensive end), but he’s a natural athlete, so I’m going to move him inside this year so he can get more looks from college scouts,� said Simmons, who was hired March 29. “It’s only been a short time and I’m just getting to know him and see what he can bring to the table. I know he has athletic ability. He’s very gifted. I want to see where he’s going to fit best.

“He’ll be more valuable to us this year compared to last year because they had a lot more athletes last year. He can help us out in the middle where we’re not very strong right now. He definitely has a linebacker’s build. He’s made to be a linebacker.�

Collins, the No. 27 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown of the area’s top senior college football prospects, won’t object to Simmons’ decision.

“I’ve been playing linebacker all my life, so it really won’t be that much of a change to me,� he said. “I had to get into better shape, and I feel like I’ve done that. It should be good for me. But the game of football isn’t about what I like; I’m just trying to help my team win. I would say I’m better at linebacker because I have a high IQ and I can read the field faster. I can see so much more at linebacker. To me, that’s come naturally. I’ve been good at it since I started.�

Collins wants to make a career out of football. He has high aspirations of a college and professional playing career, after which he would like to coach.

Offers are sure to come, although Lindenwood is the lone suitor at this juncture.

“He’s disappointed that he doesn’t have many offers right now because of the position he was playing,� Simmons said. “I’ve tried to explain to him that no matter where he’s playing, if you get after it, they’ll find you and put you in a position. I’m trying to put him in a position to make him more valuable and give him the support to do something he really wants to do.

“I’ve tried to explain to him: ‘(Offers) are going to come. Just be patient. Just play ball. Continue doing what you’ve been doing. Don’t worry about that. They’ll start popping up.’ �

That’s exactly what Collins likes to hear. He shares Lindenwood’s interest and is also intrigued by Missouri, Illinois, Missouri State, Alabama A&M, Grambling State and Jackson State.

“I want to get to the highest level that’s possible,� Collins said. “I want to go to college, get to the NFL, play a couple of years and then I want to retire and coach a team.�

Turner left St. Mary’s in February to take over as the coach at Belleville West, where he will oversee a major rebuilding program. The Maroons are 0-18 in the last two seasons.

Collins said he almost followed Turner to Belleville. But the fact that his older brother, Yuri, graduated from St. Mary’s, and his younger brother, Zyree, is a junior basketball star at the school, leaving wasn’t as attractive an option. Yuri Collins is the former St. Louis University basketball standout, while Zyree averaged 27 points last season for the Dragons.

“It was pretty close. We were looking at houses over there (in Belleville),� said Zamier Collins, who also plays basketball. “But my older brother went to St. Mary’s and stayed four years. My younger brother goes to St. Mary’s and he plans on staying all four years. I didn’t want to be out of that bunch. We’re all going to graduate from the same school.�

Simmons, who also will employ Collins as “a very explosive running back,� said he noticed a change in Collins’ personality once it was determined Collins was going to remain at St. Mary’s. Collins said he became more accountable and assumed responsibility as a team leader.

“He’s starting to take more of a leadership role and is getting kids to step up to the plate,� Simmons said. “He’s coming around and is starting to be more vocal in a linebacker’s way.�

Collins said Turner will be missed at St. Mary’s, but he likes Simmons’ style.

“Both coaches are really great coaches,� Collins said. “They’re really cool, they’re patient with their players and they’re not hard to get along with for the players. Coach Simmons is a little more old-fashioned. He’s a little stricter, but he’s a great coach. He pushes us pretty hard. He wants us to be the best that we can be.�