Penn State Football: New Name Surging in Starting Cornerback Battle

Although the two 2024 transfers AJ Harris and Jalen Kimber have taken the interest from fans as being new faces in the Lasch Building, Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith called out another former transfer as the player who has “made the biggest gain of anyone in the room from where he was at the end of last season to now.”

Audavion Collins a Name to Watch for Penn State Football

Rising redshirt sophomore cornerback Audavion Collins transferred from Mississippi State to Penn State following his redshirt freshman season in 2022, appearing in six games for the Nittany Lions last season.

While Collins only recorded three tackles and a tackle for a loss on the season, the Georgia native said everything is going the way he expected.

Last month during spring practices, Collins mentioned that he “expected everything to go the way of the plan, sitting back and learning from the older guys [Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, and Daequan Hardy].”

“This upcoming year,” Collins continued. “It’s all about taking a big step forward.”

According to Penn State cornerback’s coach Terry Smith, Collins has done just that. Smith noted during Penn State’s spring practices that “of all the guys in the [cornerbacks] room, he’s had the best spring.”

Collins is looking to build momentum on a strong spring practice.

“He’s a night-and-day different player,” Smith said of Collins’ play this spring. “He’s the most consistent guy out there.”

What Collins Could Add to Nittany Lions’ Secondary

Collins surge could come at the perfect time for his career in Happy Valley, as Penn State is looking to replace King, Dixon, and Hardy in the starting lineup this season, with plenty of opportunity for any player who steps up into the starting lineup.

Collins will be competing with transfers AJ Harris and Jalen Kimber, as well as returning players Zion Tracy, Elliot Washington, and Cam Miller.

Although Miller, Washington, and Tracy took most of the snaps in the Peach Bowl following opt-outs from Kalen King and Johnny Dixon, with the transfer of Kimber and Harris, the rotation among players in the room is expected to be a full competition among everyone in the room ahead of the 2024 season.