{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Brandon Collins | current_team = | number = 5, 15 | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|4|21}} | birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lbs = 180 | high_school = Brenham {{nowrap|(Brenham, Texas)}} | college = Southeastern Louisiana | undraftedyear = 2012 | pastteams = *New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2012}})* *Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2014}})* *San Jose SaberCats ({{AFL Year|2015}}) *Spokane Shock ({{AFL Year|2015}})* *San Jose SaberCats ({{AFL Year|2015}}) *Los Angeles KISS ({{AFL Year|2016}}) *Baltimore Brigade ({{AFL Year|2017|2019}}) | highlights = * ArenaBowl champion (2015) | aflstatlabel1 = Receptions | aflstatvalue1 = 89 | aflstatlabel2 = Receiving yards | aflstatvalue2 = 1,091 | aflstatlabel3 = Receiving TDs | aflstatvalue3 = 17 | aflstatlabel4 = Tackles | aflstatvalue4 = 10.5 | aflstatlabel5 = Return yards | aflstatvalue5 = 184 | afl = 13252 }}
'''Brandon Collins''' (born April 21, 1989) is an American former football wide receiver.
==Early life== Collins was born in Austin and his family quickly moved to San Angelo, TX before moving to Bryan and then finally Brenham. His parents were coaches and he was an honor roll student in high school. He played high school football at Brenham High School where he was a three-year letterman and a 4A all-state wide receiver and an all-Greater Houston safety. He was also an all-district point guard in basketball and a regional qualifier in the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the long jump.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brandon Collins |url=https://lionsports.net/sports/football/roster/brandon-collins/1254 |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref>
His cousin Shaud Williams played for the Buffalo Bills.
==College career== Collins started his college career at the University of Texas. In 2007, he played in 7 games as a freshman and had 2 special teams tackles and the next year he played in 12 games with 3 starts and caught 35 passes for 430 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 103-yard receiving game against Texas A&M.<ref name="Records">{{cite web |title=Texas Football Record Book |url=https://texaslonghorns.com/documents/2024/8/8/Football_Record_Book.pdf |access-date=21 February 2025}}</ref> He played in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl where he 7 receptions for 60 yards and Texas won.<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas 24-21 Ohio State |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/290050251 |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> He missed the 2009 season because he was academically ineligible. Then, in early 2010 he was dismissed from the Texas team when he was arrested for aggravated robbery.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Tim |title=Texas WR Collins dismissed |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls09/news/story?id=4793373 |access-date=29 August 2025 |date=3 January 2010}}</ref>
He transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Texas Receiver Clear to Play at SLU |url=https://victoriaadvocate.com/2010/09/01/former-texas-receiver-clear-to-play-at-slu/ |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=Victoria Advocate |date=1 September 2010}}</ref> In his first season at Southeastern Louisiana he played in all 11 games with 8 starts and was second on the team with 56 catches for a team-high 875 yards (15.6-yard avg.) and 4 touchdowns. He also returned 13 punts for 88 yards. In 2011, he led the team in receptions (61) and receiving TDs (5) and was 2nd in receiving yards (746) while also recording 37 yards on 4 carries and leading the team with 21 kick off returns for 232 yards.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Football Cumulative Statistics - Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics |url=https://lionsports.net/sports/football/stats/2011?&clean=true |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===New York Giants=== Collins was signed on May 14, 2012, by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Lion Brandon Collins Signs Free Agent Deal With New York Giants|url=http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/slu-news/584900-former-lion-brandon-collins-signs-free-agent-deal-with-new-york-giants.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202220140/http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/slu-news/584900-former-lion-brandon-collins-signs-free-agent-deal-with-new-york-giants.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2 February 2013|publisher=Sports NOLA|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> On September 4 he was signed to the Giants’ practice squad, but his contract was terminated on Sept. 10 and was not re-signed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giants Wide Receiver Brandon Collins Suspended For First 4 Games Of Season |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/giants-wide-receiver-brandon-collins-suspended-for-first-4-games-of-season/ |access-date=29 August 2025 |date=24 June 2013}}</ref>
On January 4, 2013, he was re-signed to a reserve/futures contract, but on June 24, 2013, he was suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL policy and program regarding substances of abuse.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Valentine |first1=Ed |title=Giants Roster Breakdown: Brandon Collins |url=https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/6/25/4457708/new-york-giants-roster-breakdown-brandon-collins |access-date=30 August 2025 |date=25 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Giants Wide Receiver Brandon Collins Suspended For First 4 Games Of Season|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/06/24/giants-wide-receiver-brandon-collins-suspended-for-first-4-games-of-season/|work=CBS News New York|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> On August 25, 2013, he was cut by the Giants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/LB-Aaron-Curry-among-players-released/4c5623fc-f421-491a-a843-0e3cb78cf38c |title=LB Aaron Curry among players released |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=August 26, 2013 |website=Giants.com |access-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829084616/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/LB-Aaron-Curry-among-players-released/4c5623fc-f421-491a-a843-0e3cb78cf38c |archive-date=2013-08-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Hamilton Tiger-Cats=== In February 2014 he was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but was released before the season started.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tiger Cats Add 5 to Roster |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2014/02/27/tiger-cats-add-five-to-roster/ |access-date=30 August 2025 |date=27 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tiger-Cats Add Five to Roster |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2014/02/27/tiger-cats-add-five-to-roster/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=27 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ticat Transactions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2014/06/16/ticats-transactions-june-16-2014/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=16 June 2014}}</ref>
===San Jose Sabercats=== In October 2014, Collins was assigned the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.<ref name="SJSCxations">{{cite web |title=San Jose SaberCats Transactions |url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=25 |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> Before the season started he was placed on inactive reserve and then a few weeks later moved to league suspension. He returned to the SaberCats in late April, after the season had started, and played in his first game on May 9. He had two receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown in that game and played in another game before he was placed on the injured reserve. On June 1, 2015, he was put onto reassignment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Area roundup: Spokane Shock add two defensive linemen |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jun/04/area-roundup-spokane-shock-add-two-defensive/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=4 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="SJSCxations"/>
On June 2, 2015, Collins was claimed by the Spokane Shock. Two days later, he was traded back to the SaberCats. He played in a game on June 13 and then was put back on injured reserve on June 19, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=SaberCats Transactions |url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=25 |access-date=28 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="SJSCxations"/> He was reactivated from injured reserve on August 12, before the first playoff game, and then returned to it on August 21.<ref name="SJSCxations"/> The SaberCats went on to win ArenaBowl XXVIII.
In the offseason the SaberCats exercised the league rookie option and signed him to a one-year contract.<ref name="SJSCxations"/>
===Los Angeles Kiss=== A few weeks after being signed by the SaberCats, the league announced that the team would cease operations and in December 2015, Collins was assigned to the Los Angeles KISS. He was "in the middle of a breakout season" in 2016, including making the "AFL highlight of the game" in week 1,<ref>{{cite web |title=LA Kiss Postseason Media Guide |url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2016-LA-Kiss-Postseason-Media-Guide.pdf |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref> with the KISS when an ACL tear sidelined him for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bledsoe |first1=Neal |title=KISS the Team Goodbye |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/kiss-the-team-goodbye |access-date=13 July 2025 |work=FOX Sports |date=30 June 2017}}</ref>
===Baltimore Brigade=== From 2017 to 2019 he played for the Baltimore Brigade. In 2017, he joined the team late but started two of the last six game and scored two touchdowns in their one playoff game that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Baltimore Brigade Postseason Media Guide |url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2017-Baltimore-Brigade-Postseason-Media-Guide.pdf |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref>
In 2018, he helped them reach ArenaBowl XXXI which they lost to the Washington Valor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brandon Collins |url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=13252&pageview=career |website=Arena Fan |access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref> In that game he scored 3 TDs but was forced out of the game after an injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fominykh |first1=Katherine |title=Brigade suffer home invasion |url=https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=31dfa3c8-a448-4975-8117-9ce61a124c50 |access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>
He had a standout season in 2019, finishing in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs,<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Arena Football League Leaders |url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/leaders/l-Arena/y-2019 |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref> but missed the last game and the playoffs with another injury.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brandon Collins |url=https://www.rotowire.com/arena/player.php?id=154 |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref> The Arena Football League shut down following the 2019 season at which point Collins was the Brigade's career leader in receiving yards, points and touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web |title=BRIGADE DROP GAME 47-40 TO VALOR IN FINAL SECONDS |url=http://www.baltimorebrigade.com/wk12-story |access-date=13 July 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129194054/http://www.baltimorebrigade.com/wk12-story |archive-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{ArenaBowl XXVIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Brandon}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Brenham, Texas Category:American football wide receivers Category:Canadian football wide receivers Category:Players of Canadian football from Texas Category:Texas Longhorns football players Category:Southeastern Louisiana Lions football players Category:New York Giants players Category:San Jose SaberCats players Category:Spokane Shock players Category:Los Angeles Kiss players Category:Baltimore Brigade players Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players