5 Things To Know About 49ers Second-Round Pick DT Alfred Collins

The San Francisco 49ers continued to beef up their defensive line in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the selection of defensive tackle Alfred Collins of the University of Texas.

Collins (6-6, 332) joins 49ers first-round pick Mykel Williams as a new addition to the defensive line. And like Williams, Collins gives defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek a player of terrific size and untapped potential to work with.

Let's take a look at what to know about Collins as he makes his way to the Bay Area.

Familiar bloodlines and a familiar comparison

Collins comes from an athletic family. His mother, Benita Pollard, played basketball at the University of Texas, while his sister, Kennedy, played basketball at Houston Baptist. But 49ers fans will recognize the name of Collins' cousin -- Trent Brown, who played right tackle for the 49ers for the first three seasons of his NFL career.

Collins told reporters after being drafted that he's spoken to Brown about what needs to be done to succeed in the NFL.

"I haven't really talked to him today, but he just said it's a job," Collins said. "You've got to work. Set yourself apart. That's really the main gist of what he was saying -- just work. That's all you can do."

Collins has been compared by NFL.com to former 49ers defensive tackle and first-round draft pick Javon Kinlaw. The 49ers never got what they hoped to get from Kinlaw before he left the team as a free agent in 2024, but perhaps they'll have better luck with Collins.

"He's a legit specimen," an NFL personnel director told NFL.com. "With the right coaching, he could end up taking off and becoming the best interior player in this class."

Collins posted a vertical jump of 26 inches and a broad jump of eight feet at the NFL Scouting Combine. He did not participate in Texas's pro day in March due to an undisclosed injury.

Plenty of experience

Collins, 23, stayed five seasons at Texas and played 63 games, totaling 142 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He faced off against a number of NFL players at Texas, including first-round offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, while practicing against an offensive mind in head coach Steve Sarkisian.

For that reason, Collins may be able to step in on day one and become a significant contributor for the 49ers.

"I don't think you can throw anything at me I haven't already seen," Collins told The Draft Network. "I've played in a bunch of different schemes, and I've seen every scheme on offense. I went against Coach Steve Sarkisian's offense for four years in practice. That's a challenge. I feel like my experience is going to translate. I'm a very seasoned player."

Trending upward

Collins came to the University of Texas with high expectations after being rated as a five-star recruit coming out of Bastrop High School in Cedar Creek, Texas. He was viewed as an inconsistent player earlier in his career but started to emerge in his later seasons with the Longhorns, eventually becoming a first-team All-SEC player in 2024.

"I knew I had to be that guy (as a fifth-year senior)," Collins told The Draft Network. "The program was relying on me. I knew I had a lot of people doubting me as well. I wanted to prove them wrong. I put in the required work. It showed on the field."

Collins finished the 2024 season with 55 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and seven passes defended.

"With opportunity comes responsibility, and I think Alfred has assumed the responsibility of the opportunity," Sarkisian said late in the 2024 season, per SI.com. "Sometimes it's more difficult to remain consistent when 'Well, I'm going to get my you know, 10, 12, 15, plays'. But when you know you're getting counted on for 35, 40 plays a game, you tend to lean into 'I got to do all the little things right,' and whether it's your hands, whether it's your footwork, whether it's fitting a run a certain way, staying in your gap, whatever that looks like. Alfred has sees this, sees the moment, and sees the opportunity."

Check out Collins' highlights below: