Analysis
What Ourlads' Scouting Services said about ZAVEN COLLINS before he made the Arizona Cardinals' Depth Chart: Tulsa, 6040 255 4.66. Three year starter, Hominy OK. Showed remarkable improvement in 2020 to become a complete player with ideal size for a linebacker. Versatile prospect he has played inside and outside in a 3-3 stack. Instinctive with run reads he gets downhill quickly fitting inside gaps. Will take an open window with no hesitation and has made several big plays in the backfield. Downhill reactions often resemble inside blitzes. Quick with his hands he can slip blocks on the move. Moves well laterally and can quickly redirect reacting to cutbacks or adjusting to a bounce outside by a running back. Possesses sideline to sideline range and explodes into tackles with quick gather and finish. Consistently makes plays in space. His agility and length are plusses in zone coverage as he is quick to get in the throwing lane and react on the throw. Has been used as a spy and been effective stopping mobile quarterback runs. In this role his length has put him in position to knock down passes. Adept at timing inside and outside blitzes with range to chase down the quarterback or ball carrier. Coming off the edge he can get around the corner with a burst to close. Not a lot of exposure to man coverage so that will be an area to work on. Has improved his ability to take on straight up blocks but still tends to play a little high at times causing him to lose leverage. That said he does not get moved out. As a blitzer he relies on his snap quickness and burst. Coming off the edge an athletic blocker can neutralize him. As an edge rusher he will need to develop more technique. Has shown the ability to develop technique and his unique skill set will allow him to fit a variety of schemes. Has been an incredibly dynamic playmaker in 2020 and was rewarded with the Bronko Nagurski trophy for the best defensive player in the nation. 2020 stats: 53 T, 11.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 4 INT (2 TD). First/second round. (A-33 5/8, H-9 3/8, BP-19, SS-4.36, VJ-35).