Know Your Wildcat: Daryl Collins

During the slow and insipid summer of 2008, former KSR wordsmith Evan Hilbert profiled each and every member of the University of Kentucky football team. Though his knowledge was sparse and his research was far from thorough, Evan’s short and insufficient player profiles were an integral part of Kentucky’s success that season. UK finished with seven wins, including the opener at Louisville and a 25-19 victory in the Liberty Bowl. Kentucky hasn’t won a bowl game since. Let’s bring back that magic…

 

#23 DARYL COLLINS

Vitals

— Height: 5’11”

— Weight: 205 lbs.

— Class: Sophomore (RS)

— Experience: JC

— Position: Wide Receiver

— Hometown: Gadsden, Ala.

— High School: Gadsden City

Class of 2011 Ranking

— Rivals.com: #84 WR 

— Scout.com: #62 WR 

— 247Sports.com: NR 

— ESPN Recruiting: #45 WR 

How He Got Here

Collins gave a verbal commitment to the University of Alabama, his lifelong favorite team, in the spring of his junior year of high school. But when Nick Saban asked him to grayshirt his freshman season, the wide receiver reconsidered his commitment to Alabama and jumped at the opportunity to play right away at the University of Kentucky.

Freshman Season, 2011

The hope was Daryl Collins would make an immediate impact during his freshman season in Lexington, but a season-ending knee injury suffered in practice the week before Kentucky’s 2011 season opener forced him to redshirt.

Redshirt Freshman Season, 2012

Collins started 2012 with a bang, catching seven passes in his first career game, on the road versus Louisville. But he would simmer down after the opener, only catching 10 more balls for the rest of the year. He finished the season with 10 receptions for 171 in 12 games. He also returned six kickoffs and three punts.

Something You Didn’t Know About Him

He loves science.

Something We Made Up About Him

If he could have dinner with anyone in the world, dead or alive, it would be Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Most Recent Tweet

Ugh I'm getting sick 😒😒

— â™ RASTA SWAG 1k♣ (@DCollins_23) August 11, 2013

Unfair NFL Comparison

Desean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

Outlook for 2013

Collins is one of four players currently in the running to be the Cats’ punt returner this fall. On offense, he thinks he can be “the guy” in Neal Brown’s spread offense. He’ll definitely get a lot of run in the receiving corps, although his presumed starting job will be tough to hold on to if the newcomers continue to play well in practice. He’ll get plenty of looks, though, and could have a breakout season.