After spending time on five practice squads since coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with only two contests on an active roster, this converted college linebacker’s combination of work ethic, persistence and physical nature has served him well in handling lead blocking duties since 2011. While primarily a blocker, Collins has also recorded 25 receptions for 120 yards with four touchdowns in 31 games with 18 starts. Also serving as an asset on both the special teams blocking and coverage units, he’s added six tackles.
NFL CAREER – After spending time on five practice squads since coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with only two contests on an active roster, this converted college linebacker’s combination of work ethic, persistence and physical nature has served him well in handling lead blocking duties since 2011. While primarily a blocker, Collins has also recorded 25 receptions for 120 yards with four touchdowns in 31 games with 18 starts. Also serving as an asset on both the special teams blocking and coverage units, he’s added six tackles.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by New Orleans to reserve/futures contract, 1/13/11; Re-signed to practice squad, 9/23/10; Released from practice squad, 9/18/10; Signed to New Orleans practice squad, 9/13/10; Waived by Tennessee, 9/4/10; Signed by Tennessee Titans, 8/6/10; Waived by Cleveland, 6/15/10; Signed by Cleveland to reserve/futures contract, 1/5/10; Signed to Cleveland practice squad, 12/2/09; Released from Arizona practice squad, 11/24/09; Signed to Arizona Cardinals practice squad, 11/4/09; Released by Kansas City, 9/4/09; Signed by Kansas City Chiefs, 1/8/09; Signed to Cleveland practice squad, 12/11/08; Waived by Cleveland, 12/10/08; Signed by Cleveland Browns, 11/26/08; Released from Chicago practice squad, 11/24/08; Signed to Chicago Bears practice squad, 10/28/08; Released from Philadelphia practice squad, 10/21/08; Signed to Philadelphia practice squad, 9/3/08; Waived by Philadelphia, 9/2/08; Signed by Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, 4/28/08.
2012 – Appeared in 15 games with seven starts at fullback. Inactive at Dallas, Dec. 23 (knee/toe). Caught 14 passes for 70 yards (5.0 avg.), with a long of 12 yards with two touchdowns, while adding two special teams tackles…Started at Carolina, Sept. 16 and blocked for a unit that finished with a season-high 163 rushing yards, including 110 for Pierre Thomas…Started vs. Kansas City, Sept. 23 and pulled in a six-yard touchdown reception and also fell on a kickoff that he did not return at end of regulation…Started at Green Bay, Sept. 30 and recorded a season long 12-yard grab…Started vs. San Diego, Oct. 7 and helped offense accumulate 404 total net yards, while also adding one special teams tackle…Made one special teams tackle, also blocking for an offense that gained 440 total net yards, 148 on the ground vs. Atlanta, Nov. 11…Started and posted two receptions for a career-high 21 yards, while also blocking for a powerful running game that gained 151 yards at Oakland, Nov. 18…Posted two receptions for nine yards, including a two-yard TD vs. San Francisco, Nov. 25…Started and recorded two receptions for nine yards at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 9…Registered a four-yard reception and blocked for a productive rushing attack that gained 149 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 16. 2011 – With only 15 touches as he served as the club’s lead blocker in all 16 games, Collins scored four touchdowns, carrying four times for four yards with two TDs and making 11 receptions for 50 yards with two TDs…Appeared in both postseason games with one start in NFC Divisional Playoff game at San Francisco, and recorded three receptions for 28 yards…Scored a touchdown on a one-yard run at Jacksonville, Oct. 2, on his first career offensive touch, helping power a New Orleans running attack that gained 177 yards…On only his third career touch at Carolina, Oct. 9, scored on a one-yard TD reception…One-yard touchdown run vs. Indianapolis, Oct. 23, gave New Orleans a 28-0 lead, as he blocked for a rushing attack that ran for 236 yards, the highest total by the Saints since 2006…12-yard reception in overtime at Atlanta, Nov. 13, put New Orleans in position for K John Kasay’s 26-yard field goal… In regular season finale vs. Carolina, 1/1/12, caught two passes for three yards, including one TD, blocking for a rushing attack that gained 164 yards, including the club’s first individual 100-yard game of the season. 2010 – After going to training camp with Tennessee, spent 15 weeks of the regular season and one postseason week on Saints practice squad. 2009 – After going to training camp with Kansas City, spent three weeks on Arizona practice squad and final month of season on the Browns practice roster. 2008 – After going to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles who signed him as an undrafted free agent, spent two weeks on the Cleveland active roster, while also enjoying stints on the practice squads of the Eagles, Chicago and the Browns.
COLLEGE – Played in 46 games in four years at LB, FB and TE for Washington State, totaling 80 receptions for 899 yards (9.2 avg.) and six touchdowns…Also recorded eight carries for 12 yards with two touchdowns as well as 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…Started all 12 contests and finished with a career-high 52 catches for 512 yards and three TDs as a senior and posted 12 tackles and one fumble recovery on defense as a senior…Majored in accounting.
PERSONAL – Earned Division II Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors at linebacker for Mission Viejo (Calif.) HS…Married (Kira)…A licensed minister, Collins officiated teammate Brian de la Puente’s wedding in 2011…Jedidiah Gabriel Collins was born March 3, 1986 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
