Collins Grabs Maxwell; Don’t Expect Changes To Throwing Motion

Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins said too much has been made of a slight “hitch” in his throwing motion and he doesn’t expect it to affect him in the pros.

At the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis earlier this month, it was Collins who opted against the open workouts because he said he was trying to correct the problem he had heard about at the Senior Bowl.

But on Tuesday, at an appearance in Philadelphia before receiving the 58th annual Maxwell Award as the nation’s top college player, Collins said he wasn’t worried and has no plans to change his throwing motion.

Collins led the Nittany Lions to an 11-0 season and a Rose Bowl victory and posted a 66.7 percent completion mark while passing for 2,679 yards.

He was selected college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club’s panel of 1,171 football writers, edging out running back Rashaam Salaam of Colorado.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno edged Nebraska’s Tom Osborne to win the club’s award for college coach of the year.

New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young were the winners of the pro coach and pro player of the year awards.

Brooks Robinson, perhaps the best defensive third baseman to play the game, was honored at the 23rd Annual Dunlop Pro-Am Awards Dinner.

Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers was named the top professional athlete while speed skater Dan Jansen was named the top amateur athlete.