Alfred Collins 2025 NFL Draft: Texas DT Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, a run-stopping defensive tackle you need to know is Alfred Collins. He’s a versatile DT from Texas with excellent hand power and length. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Alfred Collins 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Alfred Collins arrived at Texas in 2020 as a highly touted four-star recruit from Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop, Texas. A multi-sport athlete (football, basketball, track), Collins flashed dominance in high school with 253 tackles, 74 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over three seasons.
After biding his time behind future NFL talents like Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat, Collins emerged as a full-time starter in 2024, anchoring a Longhorns defense that reached the College Football Playoff. His senior season earned him First-Team All-SEC and Second-Team All-American honors, signaling a breakout year that elevated his draft stock.
Collins projects as an early-down run stuffer with rotational upside. He’s a high-floor, moderate-ceiling prospect best suited for a gap-control defense (3-4 nose tackle or 4-3 1-technique). Additionally, his run-stopping prowess and length make him an immediate contributor, though his pass-rush limitations may restrict him to base packages early in his career. Like Akeem Spence, Collins brings size, strength, and run-stopping reliability but lacks the explosiveness or pass-rush polish to be a game-changer.
HT: 6055
WT: 332
40: 4.95
ARM: 3458
Strengths:
- Run-Stopping Anchor: Collins is a brick wall against the run, using his size, length, and leverage to clog gaps and reset the line of scrimmage. His wide base and strong lower half allow him to absorb contact and hold ground against single blockers, often requiring double teams to move him.
- Hand Power and Shedding: His violent hand usage stands out—Collins delivers heavy, well-timed strikes to disengage from blockers quickly. His ability to stack and shed makes him a menace in the trenches, freeing up linebackers behind him.
- Length and Disruption: With 34 5/8″ arms and a massive wingspan, Collins disrupts passing lanes effectively, as evidenced by his team-leading seven pass breakups in 2024. His reach also aids in corralling runners who try to bounce outside.
- Football IQ: Collins shows advanced block recognition and gap discipline, rarely getting caught out of position. His patience allows him to read plays and react decisively, a trait honed over five years in Texas’ system.
- Versatility: While primarily a nose tackle (0/1-technique), Collins has experience sliding to 3-technique or even shading outside tackles, offering scheme flexibility for NFL defenses.
Areas for Improvement:
- Limited Pass-Rush Arsenal: Collins’ pass-rushing production is underwhelming (1 sack in 2024), relying heavily on a bull rush that lacks refinement. He struggles to string moves together or counter when his initial push is stalled, limiting his impact on passing downs.
- Inconsistent Pad Level: At his height, Collins occasionally plays too upright, allowing savvy linemen to get under his pads and neutralize his power. Improving leverage consistency will be critical at the next level.
- Lateral Agility: While he moves well for his size in a straight line, Collins lacks the twitch or bend to chase plays sideline-to-sideline or redirect quickly against mobile quarterbacks.
- Age and Ceiling: Turning 24 as a rookie, Collins is older than most prospects, potentially capping his long-term upside. Given his current toolkit, his development as a pass rusher may remain stagnant.
- Explosion: His get-off is solid but not elite, occasionally letting quicker interior linemen gain the upper hand before he can establish control.
Conclusion:
Collins is a throwback defensive tackle built to dominate the line of scrimmage against the run. His combination of size, power, and football intelligence ensures he’ll stick in the NFL, likely as a rotational piece with starter potential in the right system. While his pass-rush upside is questionable, his ability to anchor a front and keep second-level defenders clean will appeal to teams prioritizing a stout rush defense.
Ultimately, with development, Collins could approach a poor man’s Jonathan Allen trajectory. With coaching to refine his hand technique and add a secondary move (swim or rip), Collins could grow into a three-down player, particularly in schemes that prioritize line control over penetration. Expect Collins to hear his name called on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, with a chance to carve out a decade-long career as a dependable big man.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | PD |
| 2020* | Texas | 10 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021 | Texas | 12 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022* | Texas | 12 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023* | Texas | 14 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024* | Texas | 16 | 27 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Career | 64 | 73 | 68 | 18 | 7 | 12 |
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