Darren Zary
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Wearing blue and gold for the first time, David Collins saw green.
Lots and lots of green. Turf everywhere his legs could take him.
Canada’s bigger field was certainly a real eye-opener, in a good way, for the American running back when he carried the football north of the border for the very first time as a member of the Saskatoon Hilltops.
“I am DEFINITELY enjoying the bigger field,” says the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Collins, a native of Minneapolis.
“I’ve got that down. I was telling some of my teammates that I don’t even know what to do with all this open space! It gives me a lot of opportunity to be creative and a lot of opportunity to be more physical as well.”
Collins, who turned 22 in July, has rushed 54 times for 480 yards and four touchdowns. He has averaged 8.9 yards per carry.
“Number 1, he’s a great kid,” says Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, whose team heads to Regina on Saturday night to face the Thunder in an early Prairie Football Conference first-place showdown.
“He’s got a great personality. He just has natural charisma, a real good leader. Then, when you put the pads on, all of a sudden, son of a gun, you put that ball in his arms and there’s just a passion and fury between the lines of scrimmage.”
Sargeant adds that Collins brings an attitude to the run game that’s been nice to see.
“What a great mix between him and Corbin (Ebben),” Sargeant says, “because Corbin’s such a high-end player, too.
“The offensive staff and coach (Shane) Reider have a lot of good options to figure out how to light up that scoreboard.”
An early-season injury to Ebben — who didn’t play last week — has opened the door for Collins to show his stuff.
So that “precipitated more opportunities for David,” points out Sargeant.
“We know that we’re going to utilize both and become big factors in every game plan.”
ONE OF THREE IMPORTS
Collins is one of three Americans on the Hilltops squad this season. He comes to Saskatoon on a referral from receiver David Boyd Jr., who played for the rival Thunder last season. Collins gives Boyd all the credit for getting him to the Toppers.
The two of them played junior college football together in Minnesota at Central Lakes Community College, and now are reunited.
“I don’t know if I was surprised (by the early success) because I was training all summer — I knew I was coming to play football, and I knew I had to have that mentality all summer that I was about to get a chance again,” says Collins. “Not a lot of people get second chances, so I wanted to make the most of it. I’m glad, by the graces of God, I was able to do as well as I’m doing so far.”
Rounding out the three American imports is receiver/defensive back/safety Isaiah Vallderruten from New Jersey. Collins and Vallderruten actually met for the first time at the Minneapolis airport before boarding a plane for Saskatoon.
“I was sitting at the airport gate where our flight was leaving and he was, like ‘are you David?’ I was, like, ‘yeah.’ He said, “I’m going to be your roommate.’ And I was, like, ‘cool.’ I’m glad I got to meet him before we got here. He’s a really cool guy.”
Collins feels like he can bring a lot of physicality to the offence, along with light-hearted humour when needed.
“They’re seeing that I’m ready to work,” he says. “I like to make people laugh, as well. Now or then at practice, I’ll make a couple of guys laugh. I’m not really a comedian, but every now and then, I throw a few jokes out there to get the guys cackling and get some chemistry.”
Collins says he’s honoured to be one of the first-ever Americans on the Hilltops.
“I’m glad that I’m the first (American) running back, truth be told,” he says. “I mean, since it’s the first time, I’m glad it’s going so smooth because, bringing in people from the States, you never know what you’re in for.
“I’m glad that with the group of guys we have here, we’re a bunch of hard-workers and ready every game and ready to see success continue.”
