Former Oxy Quarterback Collins Signs with LA Avengers
Los Angeles, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2007) – Occidental’s three-time Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 05, 06) Andy Collins signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League on Thursday.
During Collins’ time at Occidental he was dominant in the conference, leading the Tigers to an 18-0 SCIAC record and triggered a 26-game regular season win streak. He was among the Division III national leaders in a number of offensive categories, earning 2006 All America status. In both 2005 and 2006 Collins was named to the All-West Region team as well.
In 2006 Collins ranked 12th in NCAA Division III in total offense (273.1) and 14th in passing efficiency (153.7). During his junior season he was ranked ninth in passing efficiency (165.6) and sixth in total yardage (341.2) in 2005.
The accolades and accomplishments continued as Collins tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass and caught another on Dec. 16 in the Aztec Bowl, becoming the first quarterback named Aztec Bowl Most Valuable Player.
In the Texas vs. the Nation game, Collins held his own against a Nation defense loaded with Division I talent, completing three of seven passes for 55 yards in just over one quarter of play. He also threw an interception returned 60 yards for a touchdown. After the interception, Collins engineered a ten-play, 65-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Baylor's Paul Mosley that tied the score at 17-17.
On May 12 Collins participated in the New York Giants mini-camp at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey as an unsigned free agent.
Collins joins an Avengers squad that finished
second in the AFL West Division (9-7) before recording the first
post season victory in franchise history by defeating the Utah
Blaze 64-42 at the Staples Center.
