Alfred Collins is now a San Francisco 49er. The former Longhorns defensive lineman was picked 43rd in the second round of the NFL Draft. Collins is the fourth Texas Ex taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are five reasons the 49ers should be excited to have Barron on their roster:
Great Learner
While Collins contributed right away at Texas, he did struggle at times early in his college career with applying technique to his big frame. But this past season, Collins showed huge improvements as the anchor of the Texas defensive line, nearly doubling his career bests in solo tackles, assisted tackles, and pass deflections while setting career highs in sacks, forced fumbles, and blocks.
Big Man Size
Collins’ size is hard to miss. At 6’6, 332 pounds, Collins’ stature fits the criteria that NFL teams often set for defensive lineman. As Collins has grown into his frame, he’s developed the skills to match.
Strength Smarts
Collins has shown an innate ability to shed interior blocks and strength at the point of attack, specifically in the run game. The Bastrop, TX native now uses his growing football IQ to handle multi gap assignments in college at a level that suggests a smooth transition to the NFL.
Tips Appreciated
Collins’ football smarts has also helped in the passing game. Collins has developed a knack for getting in passing lanes, with seven batted balls in 2024 alone.
Run Stopper
Collins true strength is stopping the run. The interior lineman has become adept at maintaining gap integrity, identifying blocking schemes, and shedding blocks to halt ball carriers. He should contribute immediately in the trenches as one of the best interior rush stoppers in the class.
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