Audavion Collins Is on a Special Run for Penn State Football. Let Us Count the Ways

Penn State’s Audavion Collins, one of the top cornerbacks in college football, is on the run.

Up the stat chart of top pass defenders in the nation. Against opposing defenses. For the Nittany Lions’ offense against Purdue. In the 40-yard dash. And up the NFL Draft board.

And, in a good way, the unheralded transfer from Mississippi State now in his fourth season at Penn State, is always running his mouth, pushing his teammates.

Ultimately, if all goes well, he could finish his Penn State career as the fastest Nittany Lion ever, as well as the first Penn State defensive back to be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft.

So, yes — wow, Watch AC Run. Let us count the ways:

1. The 40-yard dash. Collins recorded a best of 4.28 last spring. Over the summer, he was clocked at running 23.5 miles per hour — which combined with his 38-inch vertical leap and 305-pound bench press, earned him a spot on the annual Freaks List, compiled by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” said Penn State associate head coach and cornerbacks guru Terry Smith. “He’s as fast as what’s running against him. AC has that different gear. It’s uniquely different.”

2. Penn State’s fastest 40s. The fastest officially recorded 40 I could find for a Penn Stater is the 4.22 that Drew Hartlaub ran at Penn State’s Pro Day in 2022. The three-fastest 40s run by a Penn Stater at the NFL Combine are: 1.) Justin King, 4.31, 2008. 2.) Troy Apke, 4.34, 2018. 3.) Daequan Hardy, 4.38, 2024.

3. On offense. Collins lined up on offense for Penn State twice against Purdue. He carried the ball once, in the fourth quarter when he ran the ball for 11 yards and a first down on a reverse around the right side.

“It felt amazing to play offense again,” Collins said. “I hadn’t played it since high school. I’m willing to do whatever I can to help the team out.”

PSU offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser: “It was good to see him go out there and create an explosive play for us when the formation fits. I just love what that kid is about. He’s a guy who loves football. He’s tenacious. He said he’ll score a touchdown. And he’s said it every single time. Maybe it wouldn’t be a touchdown, but I knew something good was going to happen with the football in his hands, because he’s the most competitive and one of my most favorite people on the entire team.”

4. PSU DBs and the pros. Does Collins have a shot at being the first Nittany Lion defensive back to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft? Penn State has had 42 defensive backs drafted by the NFL since 1960, but never a first-rounder. There have been four second-rounders:
• Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh, 2023 —2nd / 32 overall
• Jaquan Brisker, Chicago, 2022 — 2nd / 48 overall
• Bryan Scott, Atlanta, 2003 — 2nd / 55 overall
• Kim Herring, Baltimore, 1997 — 2nd / 58 overall

Collins can look to a trio of folks inside Lasch building — all of whom who played for PSU — for advice on the draft. Recruiting stalwart Alan Zemaitis was picked in the fourth round (122 overall) by Tampa Bay in 2006. Assistant secondary coach Jordan Lucas was selected in the sixth round (204 overall) by Miami in 2016. And Smith, a former Nittany Lion star wide receiver and co-captain, has helped a staggering 17 defensive backs/safeties get drafted since he started coaching at PSU in 2014.

5. The NFL Draft. Right now, Collins looks to be a second-round pick. But he is making a fast run up many draft boards. The NFL Mock Draft Database has him at No. 74, quite a jump from the 900+ spot he was in during July. Pro Football Network has Collins No. 38, with its two analysts weighing him at No. 31 and No. 45. Mike Renner of CBS Sports has Collins as his No. 44 player, a solid upper second-round pick.

Says Renner: “There’s no player on Penn State’s roster happier about Matt Campbell’s arrival this season than Collins. …Collins has almost matched his snap total from a year ago in press coverage and is thriving because of it. He’s ridiculously physical at the line of scrimmage with speed to track downfield as well.”

6. In practice. Says WR Brett Eskildsen, a fast guy himself: “When I first got here, I learned very quickly that Audavion Collins was an extreme competitor. … Seeing him on the field during winter competitions and even just in the weight room, he was always looking over, trying to do more weights and just beat me in whatever race we were doing.

“Being able to go against that caliber of corner in practice has helped us both grow. …He’s been really good about giving me criticism. It’s been a really useful tool throughout the year.”

7. National stats and rankings. Collins is No. 6 in pass break-ups (9), No. 2 in least completions allowed (5) and No. 2 in fewest yards per reception allowed (6.4). Overall, the Nittany Lions’ defense ranks No. 3 nationally in pass defense (141.1 ypg) and pass efficiency defense, and No. 5 in third-down conversions (27.6%) and in most three-and-outs caused by a defense (29.35%).

8. 24/7/365. Collins is an example to everyone he works with — freshmen, seniors, long-time teammates, transfers and coaches alike. Says head coach Matt Campbell: “I think AC has been exceptional. As we continue to talk about the type of team we want to have — tough, disciplined, having the ability to show player-driven leadership. One of the guys that I would say has embodied that to a T so far has been AC.

“From winter conditioning to spring ball, if you go out to practice every day, the same guy you see on Saturdays is the guy that you see on Tuesday, on Wednesday, on Thursday. And to me, that’s why he’s playing at that rate.”

More from Campbell: “He embodies what it looks like to be great, to look like a pro at this point in his career. I’m really proud of AC. He’s a guy that loves football. He demands the best of himself. He’s prepared for these moments, and I think that’s why you see him playing as well as he is right now.”

9. Work ethic. Collins transferred to Penn State in 2023, after redshirting as a freshman at Mississippi State. He appeared in six games in 2023, and 16 games in 2024. He’s been a starter since the beginning of the 2025 season, and now has made 21 consecutive starts for the Nittany Lions.

Collins is quick to point out: “I wasn’t a high recruit coming out of high school. I had to work each and every day to get to where I’m at and not take one day for granted. Nothing was ever given to me.

“There are six of us — I have four brothers and one sister. My dad [Kenric] always taught us how to work hard. No matter what you’re doing in this life, you have to work hard. If you’re a businessman, you work hard at that. If you cut grass, work hard cutting grass. You have to work hard to get what you want to get in this life.”

10. The latest in a long run of great corners for Smith, who is the ultimate mentor. Collins says: “Coach T has had a major impact on me, with everything he has taught me ever since I came to Penn State — how to work, how to watch film, how to study, how to become a better player overall. And he’s taught me a lot of things off the field, too. Just life. Life.”