Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DT Alfred Collins

Here is our scouting report on Alfred Collins from Texas

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle Alfred Collins from Texas.

Alfred Collins

DT
Texas Longhorns
Senior
5-star recruit
6’5”
322 lbs

Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History

Alfred Collins was born on October 8, 2001, in Bastrop, Texas, and grew up in the nearby town of Cedar Creek, where he attended Cedar Creek High School. He comes from an athletic family—his mother, Benita Pollard, was a standout basketball player at the University of Texas from 1990 to 1994, which likely influenced his decision to follow in her footsteps and attend the same university.

During his high school career, Collins excelled as a three-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track and field (shot put and discus). On the football field, he was a dominant force, amassing 253 total tackles (180 solo and 73 assisted), 74 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over his career. His senior year alone saw him record 86 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, earning him District Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and a spot in the 2020 All-American Bowl. Rated as a five-star recruit, Collins was highly sought after, ultimately choosing the University of Texas over offers from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.

At Texas, Collins joined the Longhorns in 2020 as a true freshman during the COVID-19-shortened season, playing in all 10 games and starting one. He recorded 22 tackles and showed early promise as a rotational player on a veteran-laden defensive line, contributing to a 7-3 Longhorns team that finished with an Alamo Bowl win.

In his second season, Collins appeared in all 12 games, starting three, as he began carving out a bigger role. He tallied 25 tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, and two sacks. The Longhorns struggled to a 5-7 record, but Collins emerged as a reliable depth piece.

Collins played in all games in 2022, starting one, and continued to develop his physical presence. He posted 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack, contributing to an 8-5 season.

In his senior year, Collins appeared in all 14 games with seven starts. He recorded 22 tackles (14 solo), two tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups, refining his skills as a run-stopper. The Longhorns went 12-2, winning the Big 12 title and reaching the CFP quarterfinals, with Collins playing a steady supporting role alongside stars like T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.

Granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID, Collins seized a starring role, starting 16 games. He notched 55 tackles (27 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble, earning First-Team All-SEC and Second-Team All-American honors. His efforts helped Texas go 11-2, and reach the CFP again.

2024 Statistics

593 Defensive Snaps
55 Total Tackles
6 Tackles For Loss
18 Total Pressures
1 Sack
7 Pass Breakups
1 Forced Fumble
1 Penalty

NFL Combine/Pro Day

Vert- 26” (14%)
Broad- 96” (6%)

Awards

All-America (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2024)

Scorecard

Overall- 80.0
Speed- 78
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 79
Strength- 93
Tackling- 89
Pass Rush- 80
Run Defense- 86
Discipline- 98

THE GOOD

• Collins is one of the premier run-stoppers in the 2025 draft class.
• He anchors with a wide base and powerful lower half, rarely getting displaced by single blockers.
• His ability to stack, shed, and control gaps makes him a two-gap terror, often resetting the line of scrimmage with violent hand strikes.
• Displays elite grip strength and upper-body power to dissect blocks. His lock-peek-shed technique stands out, he reads blocking schemes quickly, engages with a two-hand strike, and discards linemen.
• Patient and disciplined, rarely caught out of position. Excels at absorbing double teams and maintaining gap integrity, freeing up teammates.
• Played multiple alignments (0-tech, 1-tech, 3-tech, 4i, 5-tech) in Texas’ hybrid fronts, showing adaptability for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes.
• Appeared in 64 games over five years, with no major injury history beyond a few minor injuries.

THE BAD

• Lacks dynamic burst or twitch to consistently threaten as a pass rusher.
• Relies heavily on a bull rush or long-arm move, but lacks a refined plan or counter moves when stalled.
• While agile for his size, Collins doesn’t have the horizontal explosiveness to chase plays outside his frame or recover if his initial move fails.
• His top-end speed is average, limiting his range.
• Occasionally plays too high, allowing technically sound linemen to get into his chest and neutralize his power.
• Needs to refine leverage to maximize his length.
• As a fifth-year senior he’ll be 23 entering the NFL, older than some peers in the class.

THE FIT

Alfred Collins is a throwback defensive tackle—big, physical, and nasty at the point of attack. His 2024 season showcased his ability to dominate the run game and disrupt plays with length and power, making him an immediate early-down contributor in the NFL. His pass-rush skills need development, but his frame, football IQ, and versatility offer a foundation for growth. For a team seeking a trench warrior to clog lanes and set the tone, Collins is a Day 2 steal with starter potential in the right system.

He’s best utilized as a 3-4 nose tackle or 4-3 1-technique in a gap-control defense that prioritizes stopping the run. His elite run-stopping ability and physical tools make him a safe, high-floor pick, but his limited pass-rush ceiling caps him outside Day 1 and more likely a late Day 2 option.

The Dallas Cowboys would look to tap into Collins’ strengths as a run-stuffing defensive tackle with his size and power. He would look to play as a 1-technique nose tackle where his ability to anchor against double teams and disrupt blocking schemes would shine for Dallas. Collins’ experience at Texas—playing 0-tech, 1-tech, 3-tech, and even some 4i/5-tech—gives him the flexibility to adapt to the new coaching plans.

Collins could step in as a Day 1 rotational player, likely spelling or challenging Mazi Smith for snaps at the 1-tech. His ability to eat blocks and reset the line of scrimmage would bolster Dallas’ run defense, particularly on early downs. Pairing him with Osa Odighizuwa (who has just signed a contract extension) would create a balanced front—Odighizuwa’s quickness complementing Collins’ size and power.

If Smith doesn’t pan out, Collins could claim the starting nose tackle role by the following season, anchoring the line for years.

COMPARISON:

Akiem Hicks, New Orleans

BTB GRADE:

64th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

55th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)