Profiling Colts Wide Receiver Austin Collie

Austin Collie

Born:  November 11, 1985

Hometown:  El Dorado Hills, CA

College:  Brigham Young University

Draft:  4th round, 127th overall – 2009 (Indianapolis Colts)

Height:  6 feet 0 inches

Weight:  200 pounds

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College

Professional

Pre-Draft Measurables

40-Yard Dash:  4.55 seconds

3-Cone Drill:  6.78 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle:  4.24 seconds

Bench Press:  17 reps

Vertical Jump:  34.0 inches

Broad Jump:  120.0 inches

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Breakdown

Austin Collie is essentially a three-year starter out of Brigham Young University, where he led the nation in receiving yards as a junior.  Numerous aspects about Collie are seemingly extraordinary, but they are just a byproduct of very ordinary things about him.  For example, he left college in his junior year, not solely because he felt his draft potential had peaked, but because his religious affiliation required a two-year mission that had pushed Collie into a very “old” category for college receivers.

Also, Collie’s production was not the result of blinding speed, as may be expected.  Instead, Collie relied on his dependable hands and disciplined route-running skills to be in the right spot, so the quarterback could get him the ball.

Interestingly, the things that made Collie unique were also the source of criticism against him.  Supposedly he lacked the speed, youth, and level of competition necessary to really succeed.  Numerous analysts expected Collie to be a sparingly used No. 3 or No. 4 receiver but to find a use as a gunner on special teams.

Obviously, Collie amounted to much more in his rookie season than just a ST contributor.  As it turns out in the Colts offense, what made Collie effective in college carried over very well into the NFL.  His great hands and quickness running routes made him a favorite target of Peyton Manning as the year progressed.  He ended up being compared to Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokely, and the 2008 incarnation of Anthony Gonzalez.

Collie was praised for his strength, had very good throttle control, and was able to time his speed just right to burst through down-field blocks.  He also has great acceleration, used in conjunction with his throttle control, to literally explode out of seams.  As a member of the Colts receiving corps, he acted as a possession receiver, garnering a first down every 3.04 times he was targeted (compared to Clark’s 2.95, Wayne’s 3.65, and Garcon’s 5.46).