He’s one versatile Cougar
PULLMAN – In every family, each child plays a role. There’s the studious one, the comedian, the hard worker, the pleaser and on and on.
Football teams are no different. The stress, physical and mental, the time together, on and off the field, the coaches’ parenting, it all builds a family atmosphere – and each player fills a role.
Or, as in senior tight end Jed Collins’ case, a variety of roles.
“The obvious is just a do-everything kind of guy,” is how Washington State offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller answered when asked what he was going to miss when Collins’ time in Pullman is done. “It’s funny, when we get in trouble in meetings, when we’ve got injuries and things, and we’re struggling about it, it’s just, ‘Ah, shoot, Jed can do it.’
“That’s what I’ll miss about him, having a go-to guy like that, that can go do all of it.”
Collins came to Pullman from Mission Viejo, Calif., as a linebacker but quickly impressed the coaches with his ability to do whatever was asked, and to do it with a flair not seen much in the Palouse.
“He’s unique in that,” Levenseller said. “And he plays all the special teams. Yeah, shoot, he may be the most versatile guy I’ve seen here, in all of my years.”
Collins’ first two years were spent trying to find a role. He played running back, linebacker and on the special teams. But last year he stepped forward, playing tight end, H-back (a tight end as motion receiver) and some fullback.
This year he’s doing all that and more. He’s blocked from the fullback spot in short yardage. He’s gone in motion as an H-back and found openings on the outside for first downs. He’s split seams in the secondary from the tight end spot. Total it up and he’s caught 42 passes for 389 yards, including three touchdowns.
But there are a couple of things he hasn’t done – one with his team and one on his own.
“No doubt, bowl game,” Collins answered when asked the team goal he hasn’t met. “We still have an opportunity. People counted us out five, six games ago, but we still just have that last second, that last chance. The fat lady hasn’t sung yet.
“I’d like to break a long touchdown,” he added about individual goals. “I said that at the beginning of the year I want one about 40, 50 yards, where I leave somebody in the dust – or at least they don’t catch me very quickly.”
Not the fastest tight end in the Pac-10, his longest reception this season has been for 43 yards – but not for a score.
With three games left – and yes, a fourth, in a bowl, is still possible – Collins knows time is running out on that goal. But it’s not what he’s thinking about right now.
“I’m going to miss my Cougar family,” he said. “Spending 90 percent of my time with these guys every day. Waking up in a couple of weeks not being a part of that anymore is kind of a scary thought. My best friends, my brothers are on this team. … Spending hour upon hour with these guys.
“Obviously, football, I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve loved it at times. And I’m going to miss the game, miss the competitiveness and the hitting. But we are a family here and I’m about to leave the family.”