Oklahoma State Picks Up Another Pledge in Elijah Collins, More to Come?

STILLWATER – It’s been a strong recruiting weekend for Oklahoma State football and head coach Mike Gundy as they have now picked up three new commitments, two of which are out of the NCAA transfer portal who will put their names on the dotted line on the National Letter-of-Intent on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

There is also the opportunity for more good news to come with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, as the Cowboys are bringing in more official visitors on Sunday who will stay through Monday. You likely read here on Pokes Report about the pledges from Enid, Okla. standout wide receiver Tykie Andrews and former Iowa Hawkeyes do-everything back/receiver Arland Bruce IV. Now you can add the name of former Michigan State running back Elijah Collins and Aledo, Texas slot receiver Jalen Pope could also possibly be added. 

Gundy, recruiting director Todd Bradford and the coaching and recruiting staff members hit on three of the five players who made official visits over the weekend making commitments to Oklahoma State. Like we said another, Jalen Pope of Aledo, Texas also looks promising. The one recruit who doesn’t look like he will commit before leaving is former Texas A&M and Southlake Carroll, Texas tight end Blake Smith. Smith was reportedly having a great visit but received a phone call while on the OSU visit from Oklahoma pleading with him to stop in Norman for a visit after he finished in Stillwater. We understand that Smith will make that stop. 

Michigan State University Athletics

Collins playing at home against Tulsa.

As for the players that Oklahoma State will welcome in, Collins comes in immediately for the spring semester and that is welcomed. He more than makes up for the loss of former Western Michigan back Sean Tyler, who switched his commitment to Minnesota on Jan. 13. 

Collins is Michigan State graduate having earned a degree in Media and Information. The 6-1, 215-pound Collins has rushed for 1,506-yards in his Spartan career with 11 touchdowns and averaged 4.3-yards a carry. His career carries number 353 and he has been durable and a good receiver too. 

This past season Collins played in all the games and helped Michigan State win over Indiana with 107-yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. 

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Collins scoring a touchdown against Indiana

His biggest season was in 2019 when he started 12 games and carried 222 times for 988-yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 4.5-yards a carry. He opened the season with 17 carries for 192-yards in the Western Michigan win. In the game with Illinois, Collins had 28 totes for 170-yards and two touchdowns. He had 31 carries for 109-yards vs. Rutgers. In the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, Collins had 96-yards on 21 carries against Wake Forest. 

In high school Collins was a two-time All-State player in Michigan and after his senior season with 1,076-yards and nine touchdowns posting 8.0-yards per carry he was named the top back in Michigan and was named to the MLive Detroit Dream Team.

Collins is a big back that can break tackles but also produce explosive runs. He has broken runs of 58-yards and has 12 runs of 20-yards or more. He also finished with 1,766-yards all purpose. 

Collins is a major addition for the Oklahoma State offense.