By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Another former Razorback football player has died at an early age with the news that running back Alex Collins was killed in a fatal crash that involved his motorcycle and a vehicle Sunday night.
Collins was killed just 13 days short of his 29th birthday. The crash happened at approximately 10:20 p.m. in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Collins was traveling east on his 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600K. An adult female was traveling westbound at the same time in a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban SUV. Both were on West Oakland Park Boulevard.
The investigators indicated, at some point, the driver of the Chevrolet proceeded to turn left to travel on Northwest 33rd Avenue. As the car crossed the eastbound lanes, Collins' motorcycle struck the rear passenger side of the SUV. The impact caused Collins to enter the rear passenger side window and come to rest inside the SUV. Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Collins was a five-star recruit out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) South Plantation High School. He chose Arkansas over Miami and all the other national powers in the nation.
Collins played at Arkansas from 2013-15. He wasted no time making an impact with the Razorbacks. He became the first freshman in the SEC to rush for 300 yards in his first three games. He shared time with Jonathan Williams. He finished his freshman year with 190 carries for 1,026 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2014 while once again splitting time with Williams he rushed 204 times for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns. He helped lead the Hogs to a win over Texas in the Texas Bowl.
Williams was injured in a preseason scrimmage prior to the 2015 season. Collins became the featured back in Dan Enos' offense. As a junior, he carried 271 times for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns. He became only the third running back in the history of the SEC to rush for over a 1,000 yards in three seasons. He joined Georgia's Hershel Walker and Arkansas' Darren McFadden accomplishing that feat.
On January 10, 2016, Collins penned a letter to Arkansas fans announcing his intentions to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Collins in the fifth round with pick No. 171.
He played for both the Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Earlier this year on Jan. 14, Collins signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL). On April 29 he threw a touchdown pass against the Houston Gamblers. He was placed on the injured list on May 4.
Collins' 3,703 yards rushing on 665 carries is second only to McFadden in both categories in Arkansas history. He and McFadden are tied at the top of Arkansas' chart with 10 100-yard rushing games. His 20 rushing touchdowns in 2015 is still a school record.