Tulsa LB Zaven Collins wins Nagurski Trophy
The Associated Press - Dec. 23, 2020 02:57 PM EST
FILE - Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (23) runs back an interception for a score against South Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla., in this Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, file photo. Zaven Collins is a small-town player with big-time talent. He was overlooked after a stellar high school career in Hominy, Okla., a town with about 3,500 people. He’s got the nation’s attention now -- the 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker is a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (23) runs back an interception for a score against South Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla., in this Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, file photo. Zaven Collins is a small-town player with big-time talent. He was overlooked after a stellar high school career in Hominy, Okla., a town with about 3,500 people. He’s got the nation’s attention now -- the 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker is a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE - Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (23) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NCAA football game in Tampa, Fla., in this Oct. 23, 2020, file photo. Zaven Collins is a small-town player with big-time talent. He was overlooked after a stellar high school career in Hominy, Okla., a town with about 3,500 people. He’s got the nation’s attention now -- the 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker is a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
FILE - SMU quarterback Shane Buechele (7) is stopped short of a first down by Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (23) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tulsa, Okla., in this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, file photo. Zaven Collins is a small-town player with big-time talent. He was overlooked after a stellar high school career in Hominy, Okla., a town with about 3,500 people. He’s got the nation’s attention now -- the 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker is a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards. (AP Photo/Joey Johnson, File)
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Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins has won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy honoring the nation’s best defensive player.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Collins totaled 54 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions. The junior had three sacks against Oklahoma State. Two of his interceptions were game-clinchers -- a late one against SMU and a 96-yard return for a touchdown against Tulane in overtime.

Collins is from Hominy, Oklahoma and played for small Hominy High School. Tulsa gave him his only Division I scholarship offer.

The Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club made the announcement Wednesday. The other finalists were Coastal Carolina defensive end Tarron Jackson, Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

Collins was runner up for the Butkus Award honoring the nation’s best linebacker that went to Owusu-Koramoah.

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