Nick Collins

My blog this week is on the one and only Nick Collins, who was born on August 16, 1983. Collins Collins was a diverse athlete during his high school career. He attended Dixie County High School in Cross city Florida, and lettered twice as a QB, running back, and a defensive back. Collins was named first team all conference and was named MVP as a senior. As one of the top players in High school, Collins decided to attend Bethune-Cookman University.

    Collins spent his first year playing a reserve linebacker. He played in all thirteen games of the season, starting in the last two at strong safety. Collins became a full time starter in 2003 at free safety. He started in every game but one, because of sickness. Collins had a breakout year in 2003, leading the conference in interceptions, and runner up for pass deflections.
    As a senior in 2004, Collins was an Associated Press third-team Division 1-AA All-America selection and first-team All-MEAC honors at the free safety position. Collins once again lead the league in interceptions, and pass deflections.As a big name in college, Collins entered the NFL Draft. He was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers Collins was listed as a corner, but fought for the starting free safety position.

    Collins had his first start against the Cincinnati Bangles in 2005. Collins had four total tackles and two passes defended, including a crushing blow to star wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, and forced a dropped pass from  Carson Palmer and a near interception of Palmer that Collins could have returned for a game-changing touchdown. Collins had a great season with, 80 tackles (65 solo), 15 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 forces fumbles. In Supper Bowl XLV, Collins had an interception return for 37 yard touchdown. Collins is currently still on the packers and he is making many huge plays, hoping to go to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.

Eric Berry

   I usually blog about a safety who has been in the league for a long time, but this week I'm going to blog about Eric Berry, who has only been in the league since 2010. Eric played at Creekside High School, in Fairburn Georgia.
   Eric played corner and quarterback in high school. After a stellar high school career, Eric was invited to the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Berry was considered the top player in Georgia and the top cornerback prospect by every recruiting service, and Rivals.com ranked him at the third best player in the nation. Coming out of High school, Eric could really go just about anywhere for college, so he decided to attend Tennessee.

   As a freshman, Berry replaced fifth year senior Jarod Parrish at strong safety. Berry turned in several big plays during his freshman season, with his 222 return yards on five interceptions, and broke the 37 year-old Tennessee record by 43 yards. Berry led all SEC freshmen in tackles with 86. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week twice, for his play over the regular season’s final three games. After the season, he was also named 1st team Freshman All-American by Rivals. After having such a great freshmen season, Berry knew he had to keep it going.
   Eric was named captain as a sophomore, he knew he had to step things up so he did. Eric tied for the national lead in interceptions with 7 and returned them for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns, breaking the record he set the year earlier. Combined with the yards he had as a Freshman, Berry set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards, only 14 yards short of the NCAA record for interception return yards.
   As junior Eric's skills were unstoppable, and had another outstanding season. Eric decided to not play his senior season, but to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Berry was predicted to get drafted no later than the seventh pick of the first round. Well the predictions were right, Eric Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, in the fifth overall pick. Berry selected number 29 as his jersey number in honor of former Tennessee defensive back standout Inky Johnson, whose career was cut short due to an injury.
   In his first season, Berry started all 16 games and became the first Chiefs rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Berry had a big impact on the team's defense, helping them improve from 29th best unit in 2009 in terms of points allowed to 11th in 2010. Eric wasn't just a defensive player, he is on the field for more than half the special teams.
   Berry is still playing with the Chiefs, and his record breaking ways, are not stopping soon. This is why I choose Eric Berry, I know he still has a lot to learn in the NFL, but just in his first year he is already making a huge impact.