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NFL LB Zaven Collins visits Arizona high school football team

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/21/25•

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NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Linebacker Zaven Collins has integrated himself into the Arizona community since starting for the Cardinals in 2021. He has been one of their steadier defensive players, making him a fan favorite.

While helping the Cardinals win remains his priority as a football player, he’s also lending his wisdom to the next generation of football players. AZ Compass Prep documented Collins’ visit to spend time with their football team.

As the football team’s official account on X/Twitter posted, “We had the honor of welcoming Zaven Collins, linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals and 2021 first-round draft pick. From his time at Tulsa to the NFL, his journey is inspiring. Stay tuned for a video from his talk about high school, college, and chasing his dreams.”

Zaven Collins’ visit can inspire the Dragons to sustain their dominance. Last season, AZ Compass went undefeated in 11 games and won the Canyon Athletic Association Division 2 state championship against Heritage Academy Gateway. The Dragons also defeated teams by an average margin of 30.3 points per game.

Oklahoma-born Collins played high school football for the Hominy Bucks. He played linebacker, quarterback, and safety, leading him to collect 4,084 rushing yards, 3,056 passing yards, and 86 touchdowns (54 rushing). He stayed in state for college football, playing for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

In his final year at Tulsa, he became the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Unanimous All-American. Collins also took home the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy during his senior year. Those accolades prompted the Cardinals to select him 16th overall in the 2021 draft.

From starting only six games in his rookie season, Zaven Collins started all but one regular season game in the last three seasons. He has 223 total tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 67 games.