Kentucky Football: High Praise For Will Thomas Collins
Fullback Will Thomas Collins has earned every ounce of praise he’s received. He’s also earned a scholarship from the Kentucky football program he grew up a fan of.
Will Thomas Collins is one of the unsung heroes of the Kentucky football team. He does the dirty work as the fullback who has helped clear space and lead the way for one of the better rushing attacks in the country.
The walk-on standout was rewarded for his tenacious work ethic with the ultimate collegiate prize: a scholarship.
It’s hard not to get emotional when discussing a topic like this. Players like Collins work harder than anyone else on the team as they fight for something more than just playing time; they fight for a scholarship that most other players already have or had.
According to Jon Hale of The Lexington Courier-Journal, receiving a scholarship from the school he grew up a fan of was one of Collins’ lifelong dreams.
"“We were all sitting there thinking, ‘We’re tied, we want to go home,’” Collins said. “He said that we were going to put a couple guys on scholarship who worked hard for us. So I kind of started to hope, ‘How cool would it be if you were one of those guys?’ Then obviously he said my name, and everybody starts jumping around, giving you high fives and stuff. It was pretty cool.”“I’m from outside of Louisville, but I was always a Kentucky fan,” Fink said. “I grew up watching their games. It’s really exciting. I came here walked on just because I’ve always wanted to play here, I’ve loved the team forever. Then to get a scholarship really meant a lot.”"
That’s something straight out of a movie.
Collins has endeared himself to coaches and fans around the Lexington area. He’s earned respect on the field as a physical blocker who isn’t afraid to take on contact if it helps his team.
He’s earned respect on the practice field as one of the hardest working and most accountable players on the roster.
Though a fair amount of hyperbole is often thrown into the mix with stories like this, there isn’t much here. Collins is viewed as one of the best people on the Kentucky football team.
Tight ends coach Vince Marrow offered a brilliant quote about how much Collins means to the program.
"“I’ve got daughters and if he came to my house and said he wanted to marry my daughter I would definitely let him do that,” Marrow said. “He’s a stand-up guy. He made a mistake. We all make mistakes, but that was kind of like out of his character. I was just glad that Coach Stoops and Mitch (Barnhart) and everybody in the athletic department gave him a second chance.”"
That’s a quote for the ages.
Collins’ work ethic and relatable story makes the scholarship he’s receiving all the more heartwarming and incredible. He’s a true warrior on the field and a lovable person off of it.
Congratulations on earning a scholarship from the University of Kentucky, Will Thomas Collins.
must read: Kentucky wants to be the new DB U
You deserve it.