Skip to main content

Alfred Collins trying to model his game after Chris Jones at the NFL Combine

Joe Cookby:Joe Cookabout 9 hours

josephcook89

Alfred Collins
Alfred Collins (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins is at the NFL Combine, and he shared with a familiar burnt orange face that he’d like to model his game after one of the very best in the NFL.

[BOOKMARK: Check Inside Texas daily for FREE Texas Longhorns content]

Speaking with Pro Football Talk, Collins sat down with Mike Florio and former Texas quarterback Chris Simms to discuss some of his goals and aspirations while in Indianapolis, look back on his Texas career, and go over some of what makes Collins a tantalizing prospect.

One of the questions asked by Simms, who was unabashed in his Longhorn support, was who Collins wants to model his game after.

“For sure Chris Jones,” Collins said. “I really like him. The way he goes about his business. The way he plays. I want to get my game up there with him.”

Collins is a man of few words. He gets to the point quickly in most of his answers. But the way he talked about Texas to someone like Simms who understood it and someone like Florio a bit more removed from the 40 Acres showed how much UT meant to the Longhorn legacy.

“(Steve Sarkisian) is creating a dynasty right now,” Collins said. “We have an amazing staff that will get you right. I’m excited to see where they go next year.”

Simms agreed: “We’ve got it rolling right now.”

Collins said he measured in at 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds at the combine, though official measurements aren’t until Thursday for participants. He plans to go through position drills but will save the 40, the bench press, and cone drills for Texas’ pro timing day later this spring.

Teams will see the athleticism pop on Collins’ tape, but which game did No. 95 think was the one that was the best example of his capabilities?

“The first time we played Georgia at home,” Collins said. “I think I showcased that I can play against the best.”

Collins posted six tackles and a pass defended versus the Bulldogs in October, a game where he said he was up against his toughest matchup of the season in Tate Ratledge.

Florio poked fun at Collins and Simms, asking why the Longhorns couldn’t top Georgia in two opportunities.

“I don’t know,” Collins said with a smile. “We just fell short and didn’t do what we needed to do. They executed and capitalized on our mistakes. That’s why they came on top both times.”

Collins explained that one thing he wanted to work on ahead of the draft was his ability to get after the quarterback.

“For sure pass rush and continue to better minute details,” Collins said. “Everybody is going to be good. Everybody is going to be big. It’s going to come down to the details.”

He was asked who the freakiest player on the team during his time at Texas was. With options like Byron Murphy, Barryn Sorrell, Bijan Robinson, and countless others during his time in Austin, Collins thought of a former position mate who has elected to move on from the 40 Acres and transfer to Mississippi State.

“We had a guy who transferred,” Collins said. “His name is Jaray Bledsoe. I’ve never seen somebody 300 pounds do a backflip.”

Overall, Collins finished 2024 with 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, seven passes defended, and one forced fumble.

In his career, he logged 141 total tackles, 17.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles.

Though Collins had schools like Baylor, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU after his services, the Bastrop (Texas) Cedar Creek product elected to stay home and continue his family’s Longhorn legacy.

It’s something he wouldn’t change.

“Texas was the place to be,” Collins said. “Best decision of my life. Stayed at home and represented.”

After going through the media process on Wednesday Collins, Sorrell, and fellow defensive tackle Vernon Broughton will go through measurements and on-field workouts tomorrow at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Collins will likely do it all with a smile on his face most of the time.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY for just ONE DOLLAR!]

“I’m enjoying the process and taking it all in,” Collins said.

You may also like