Beaux

Collins

With Darius Slayton struggling and then leaving the game with a hamstring injury, it was the rookie UDFA Collins who stepped into a larger role for the Giants. That wasn’t actually a good thing since Collins and Jaxson Dart didn’t seem to be on the same page at all, which led to one interception and little production. Collins wasn’t a dynamic prospect out of college, so he figures to remain off the fantasy radar even if he steps into a larger role if Slayton misses time.

Collins (6’3/210) has 48 games of college experience on his resumé that includes 43 starts. As a true freshman at Clemson, the former prospect made six starts and posted a line of 31-407-3 on 62 targets. While he’s clearly a player who impresses coaches enough to earn a starting role, Collins’ production profile is marred with inconsistent numbers that amount to a career receiving line of 132-1,780-14, with his most yards (510) coming in 2023. His career TPRR of 0.198 points to a player who struggled to earn targets despite nearly four full years as a starter. A 13.2 percent career drop rate ranks amongst the highest in this year’s class, and likely explains some of the limited looks he received. Collins has the size and speed to look the part of an outside receiver, but he struggles to separate from defenders and needs to improve his route running. While he can bail himself out with the occasional contested catch (52.2 percent contested catch rate), an uptick in competition could hurt those numbers.

Collins (6'2/195) emerged through the midway point of last season for the Tigers, twice surpassing 100-yards in a game. His overall receiving line closed at 31-407-3 and has been touted as the best receiver at the team’s spring practices. While he’ll be kept out of the team’s spring game as a precaution, nothing has suggested that he is dealing with a severe injury.

Through the first 10 spring practices, Collins (6'3/195) was identified by wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham as being the best WR in camp. “Beaux Collins is a pro,” Grisham said. “You hear that all the time, but he’s probably the most consistent guy we have overall. And he’s probably had, I’d say, the most big plays up to this point. So consistent.” The Clemson four-star recruit caught 31 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns last year. With DJU focusing on getting into excellent shape, Collins is in position to resurrect the Clemson legacy of producing top notch NFL talent.

Collins (6'2/195) entered the game with just 11 grabs for 97 yards in his first four collegiate games, so not many saw this giant stat line coming. If he is able to get going, he could pair with Justyn Toss to give sophomore QB D.J. Uiagalelei a couple of legitimate wideouts to get the offense going down the stretch. The four-star recruit from the state of California will look to carry over the momentum into next Saturday’s non-conference tilt against Connecticut.

Collins (6'2/195) was forced to make a call on this after the California Interscholastic Federation opted to shift fall sports back to December or January. Thus the decision for the Bellflower native was whether to play out his senior season of high school ball come early winter, then subsequently enrolling at Clemson in June. Or whether to graduate early and forego the senior season outright, allowing for early enrollment with the Tigers. On the 247Sports composite board, Collins hits the fray as the No. 67 overall prospect in the 2021 class.

Collins (6'2/195) took an unofficial visit to the Tigers this weekend, with Clemson sealing the deal before all was said and done. The Bellflower, California, native had a bushel of other offers, including feelers from the likes of LSU, Oklahoma and Ohio State. As for Collins’ on-field profile, the wideout is a true deep threat with wheels. Rivals ranks Collins as the No. 22 overall prospect in the 2021 class. He figures to be in play for five-star status with the outlet down the road.

Collins, who served as a backup for much of his sophomore season at St. John Bosco HS in Bellflower, CA, unofficially visited Clemson last week. And both HC Dabo Swinney and co-OC Jeff Scott made a positive impression on the rising junior. “I really liked meeting coach Swinney and just seeing what a genuine guy he is,” Collins told 247Sports’ Greg Biggins. “I was able to talk with some of the current receivers on the team and it was good to work with coach Scott as well.” The Clemson coaches were likely familiar with Collins well before his trip east, as his quarterback at St. John Bosco is 2019 Clemson commit D.J. Uiagalelei. Collins has good size and athleticism for a wide receiver, and he’s expected to have a larger role in the SJB offense playing alongside Oregon commit Kris Hutson and unsigned 2020 prospect Logan Loya this fall.