NFL Draft: Pro comparisons for the top 32 prospects in 2021
By Adam Patrick
NFL Draft 2021 Pro Comparisons: Zaven Collins → Anthony Barr
Playing at a smaller school, Zaven Collins was going to have to do a lot at Tulsa in order to get noticed by NFL scouts. Well, Collins certainly did enough during his college career to draw the attention of pro scouts since he is now one of this year’s top-rated draft prospects.
This past season at Tulsa, the talented linebacker appeared in eight games and he finished with 54 tackles (7.5 for a loss), four sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns. This came after a 2019 performance that saw him rack up 97 tackles (eight for a loss) and two sacks in 12 appearances.
Why he compares to Anthony Barr:
Collins a linebacker who can do pretty much do anything that is asked of him when he’s out on the field. Current Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr is someone who displays similar qualities.
Barr first entered the NFL as a raw, pass-rushing linebacker that needed to improve some other essential aspects of his game. Since then, he’s expanded his abilities to come up with stops in the offensive backfield and to make plays while in pass coverage.
Collins is a little more polished coming out of college than Barr was. He’s already shown the ability to disrupt plays in his opponent’s backfield, excel in pass coverage, and unleash his wrath on the opposing quarterback as a pass rusher.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Collins wound up being a Week 1 starter as a rookie in 2021. He already has a lot to offer a team’s defense and he’s got plenty of potential to develop into one of the top linebackers in the NFL.