Zaven Collins

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Tulsa. Was the second LB taken in the '21 draft (Micah Parsons, 12th to Cowboys) and the fourth defender selected.
• Played in 33 games (22 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, totaling 125 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an INT (returned 30 yards for a TD), 9 passes defensed, 12 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits and a forced fumble.
• In 2022, started all 16 games he appeared in and amassed 100 tackles (63 solo), 2.0 sacks, an INT (returned for a TD), 11 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, a forced fumble and six passes defensed. Was one of just five players in the NFL last season with 100+ tackles, 6+ passes defensed and 10+ tackles for loss. 
• Collins' production is 2022 was a huge jump from his rookie season in 2021. He 100 tackles last season were four-times as many as he had in 2021 (25).
• Scored his first career TD in Week 9 of the 2022 season vs. Seattle, intercepting a Geno Smith pass and returning it 30 yards for the score.

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Tulsa. Was the second LB taken in the '21 draft (Micah Parsons, 12th to Cowboys) and the fourth defender selected.
• Played in 33 games (22 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, totaling 125 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an INT (returned 30 yards for a TD), 9 passes defensed, 12 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits and a forced fumble.
• In 2022, started all 16 games he appeared in and amassed 100 tackles (63 solo), 2.0 sacks, an INT (returned for a TD), 11 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, a forced fumble and six passes defensed. Was one of just five players in the NFL last season with 100+ tackles, 6+ passes defensed and 10+ tackles for loss. 
• Collins' production is 2022 was a huge jump from his rookie season in 2021. He 100 tackles last season were four-times as many as he had in 2021 (25).
• Scored his first career TD in Week 9 of the 2022 season vs. Seattle, intercepting a Geno Smith pass and returning it 30 yards for the score.

Pro Career:

Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 33 games (22 starts) during the regular season in his first two seasons. Also started the Cardinals postseason matchup in 2021. 

2022: Started 16 games and amassed 100 tackles (63 solo), 2.0 sacks, an INT (returned for a TD), 11 tackles for loss, four QB hits, a forced fumble and six passes defensed ... collected four-times as many tackles in 2022 than he had in his rookie campaign in 2021 (25) ... in the season opener vs. KC (9/11) finished third on the team with seven total tackles (four solo) and led the team with two tackles for loss ... played in 100 percent of the snaps, forced a fumble in overtime and had eight tackles @ LV (9/18) ... led the team with eight tackles @ Car (10/2) ... recorded five tackles vs. Phi (10/9) ... registered his first two career NFL sacks and matched career-highs in tackles (8), tackles for loss (2) and QB hits (2) while adding a pass defensed in playing in 100% of the snaps @ Sea (10/16) ... led the team and set a career-high with nine tackles in Cardinals win vs. NO (10/20) ... recorded five tackles and had a pass defensed @ Min (10/30) ... registered seven tackles, one INT, one TFL and one pass defensed vs. Sea (11/6); returned Geno Smith's INT 30 yards for his first NFL TD ... recorded three tackles, two QB hits, one pass defensed and one TFL in Cardinals win @ LAR (11/13) ... compiled seven tackles vs. SF (11/21) ... had three tackles and one TFL vs. LAC (11/27) ... collected eight tackles and one TFL @ Den (12/18) ... recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed vs. TB (12/25) ... collected seven tackles, one TFL and a pass defensed @ Atl (1/1) ... missed the season finale @ SF (1/9) due to injury (calf).

2021:Played in all 17 games (six starts) as a rookie and recorded 25 tackles (13 solo), a tackle for loss and three passes defensed on defense while adding a solo tackle on special teams ... started and notched a tackle in his NFL debut @ Ten (9/12) ... tallied a solo tackle and two passes defensed including a third down breakup to force a Vikings punt leading to a Cardinals TD on the next drive vs. Min (9/19) ... recorded four tackles, including a fourth down stop in the first quarter to force a 49ers turnover on downs vs. SF (10/10) ... recorded four tackles (two solo) for a defense that held the Texans to just 42 rushing yards and shut them out in the second half vs. Hou (10/24) ... posted two tackles (one solo) and one pass defensed for a defense that held the Cowboys rushing attack to just 45 total yards from scrimmage @ Dal (1/2/22) ... recorded a tackle on defense and a solo tackle on special teams in his playoff debut @ LAR (1/17/22).

College:

Three-year letterwinner at Tulsa where he was named the 2020 National Defensive Player of the Year after winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award … played in 32 career games (30 starts) and had 236 career tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, five INTs (two returned for TDs), three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … also had two career blocked kicks (FG, PAT) ... started all eight games in a shortened season and was named the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award as a junior in 2020 … named the CFB on FOX Defensive Player of the Year and finished as the runner-up for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker … first-team All-American selection by the Associated Press, FWAA, AFCA, The Sporting News, Walter Camp Foundation, USA Today, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic and Phil Steele Magazine … named the unanimous AAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as earning unanimous first-team all-AAC honors … was named National Defensive Player of the Week three times and the AAC Defensive Player of the Week four times … totaled 54 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, four INTs for 152 return yards and two TDs, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one safety … ranked second in the nation in INT return yards behind only Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes (183) ... started all 12 games and earned second-team all-conference honors totaling a career-high 97 tackles, 2.0 sacks, three passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one blocked PAT as a sophomore in 2019 ... played all 12 games and started the final 10 contests at LB in 2018, beginning a streak of 30 consecutive starts to end his Tulsa career … named to the (FWAA) and USA Today Freshman All-America teams after recording 85 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three QB hurries, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one INT and one blocked FG ... redshirted as a true freshman in 2017.

Personal:

Attended Hominy (OK) High School where he played quarterback, linebacker and safety and was also the school's valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA … a four-year starter on both offense and defense, he led Hominy to the Class A state title as a senior … posted a 41-12 record in his four seasons, including a 14-0 mark as a senior … put up 4,084 rushing yards and 54 TDs, and passed for another 3,056 yards and 32 TDs as a QB during his career … as a senior in 2016, earned first-team All-State honors as a DB and was ranked #24 on The Oklahoman's Super 30 … named to the OCA Class A East all-star team … rushed for 1,520 yards and 27 TDs and completed 83-of-143 passes for 1,600 yards and 23 TDs … also totaled 91 tackles, three INTs and a fumble recovery on defense in leading the team to a state title … rushed 204 times for 1,594 yards and 25 TDs as a junior QB, while completing 54-of-124 passes for 826 yards and nine TDs … collected 69 tackles and four INTs … also played baseball, basketball and participated in the shot-put and relays in track and field at Hominy … before every game, dating back to high school, Collins receives a good luck text from his mom, Haley; every text ends the same: "Stay your path" … as a five-year old, inspired by the 2004 Summer Olympics, took up gymnastics, competing in the floor routine, high-bars and still rings … majored in Exercise and Sports Science/Pre-Med.