Texas Athletics Hall of Famer, football star Jack Collins Jr. dies at 82
One of the best all-purpose players in the history of Texas football passed away on Friday evening, the school announced on their Twitter page. Jack Collins, Jr. died on Friday evening at the age of 82 years old. He played a pivotal role in the Longhorns’ renowned Flip-Flop offense.
Collins also led the 1959 team in rushing, receiving, total offense, and all-purpose yards. He led the Longhorns to SWC Championships and Cotton Bowl berths in 1959 and 1961.
He was a running back for the Longhorns from 1959 to 1961. The Texas football Twitter account announced the news on Friday evening.
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His father, Jack Collins, Sr., was also inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor. His father was a three-sport star for Texas in the 1930s. They became the first father-son duo to be inducted into the Texas Hall of Honor.
Before he suited up for the Longhorns, Collins, Jr. was one of the most highly regarded running backs in the country. He attended Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. Once he stepped foot on campus in Austin, he never considered any school other than the Longhorns. Collins was a dominant prospect, guiding Highland Park to an 11-1 overall record and the 4A state championship. He ran for 1,473 yards, hauled in 600 yards receiving, and finished with 148 total points.
In the state championship game against Port Arthur, Collins rushed for 114 yards in a 21-9 victory. One of his more memorable moments in his high school career came against Abilene in the state semifinals. Collins broke a 20-20 tie with a 58-yard touchdown toss, snapping the three-time defending state champs’ 49-game winning streak.
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During his three seasons with Texas, Collins guided the Longhorns to a 26-6-1 overall record and a 16-4 mark in Southwest Conference games in three seasons. The Longhorns won two conference championships and finished the season ranked in the top four twice from 1959-1961.
Collins was one of the most versatile players in school history
It didn’t take long for him to display his versatility at Texas.
In 1958, he ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns, caught three passes, returned punts and kickoffs, and even punting. As a punter, he averaged 39.0 yards per punt. In 1959, Collins led the team in total yards (547), rushing attempts (89), rushing yards (450), receptions (8), receiving yards (134), and receiving touchdowns (3). As a defender, he even racked up 11 tackles and an interception as a defensive back.
Following the 1959 season, The Longhorns finished with a 9-2 overall record, shared the Southwest Conference title, played in the Cotton Bowl against No. 1 Syracuse, and finished ranked No. 4 in the country.
One of the more recognizable moments of his career came when he landed on the 1960 cover of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.
In the pros, Collins had a brief career in the NFL, spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, before moving onto a career in banking and finance.
Details with regards to the funeral services will be announced at a later time, according to the press release issued by the school.