CCSF Running Back DeShawn Collins Jumps in With Cal
The Bears picked up a commitment from their second running back of the 2019 class, adding 5-10/205 running back DeShawn Collins after his official visit over the weekend in Berkeley.
“I committed to Cal this weekend,” said Collins, rated the nation’s #11 JuCo running back. “The visit went really well.
“We toured the campus and football facilities and rode the ferry to San Francisco. The other guys visiting were really cool. I feel like I fit in well at Cal.
“I feel like it’s a good opportunity for me to get on the field and a Cal education is top of the line. Coach Toler thinks I can come in and get on the field immediately.
“I’m a one-cut running back and can do all three phases as far as running, blocking and receiving so I feel like I could bring those elements to the program at Cal.”
After the recent departure of running backs Derrick Clark and Biaggio Ali-Walsh, Cal running backs coach Burl Toler reached back into his old rolodex to reach out to Ram running back Collins, who Toler initially recruited and has stayed in touch with since his prior stint at Cal when Collins was starring for Grant High School in Sacramento.
It was no surprise that the powerfully-built Collins was on Toler’s radar as the then-senior ran for an amazing 2298 yards at a 10.2 yards per carry clip for Grant/Sacramento, adding 28 touchdowns for the 2015 season.
The dual threat Collins had 1016 yards on the ground with 10 touchdowns in 2018 along with 28 receptions for 434 yards and four touchdowns through the air as a redshirt frosh at CCSF.
Besides excelling in both the running and passing game, Collins’ strength (27 reps of 225 on the bench) makes him excellent in pass protection -an often underrated trait in running backs.
Besides bringing rushing, receiving and pass-blocking skills to the game, Collins also adds additional unique value as an experienced midyear transfer with three years to play three.
“Cal’s been talking to me since midseason this year,” said Collins earlier. “And I have a great relationship with Coach Toler. He’s been recruiting me since he was at Cal and Fresno.”
Collins originally committed to Rhode Island after being underrecruited but after spending the summer there, he decided to transfer to CCSF to increase his transfer opportunities.
After missing all but the first game of the 2017 season with a bone bruise, Collins came back for his big 2018 season -one that earned him offers from his four finalists: Cal, BYU, UNLV and Hawaii.
“It’s been good,” said Collins of his time at CCSF. “I was able to go there and achieve what I set out to achieve.”
Next step: Spring ball at Cal.