New York Giants: Top 10 Second Round Draft Picks of All-Time
By Neal Lynch
10, Mark Collins – DB, Cal State Fullerton Titans (1986, #44)
Games: 112
Approximate Value: 53
Average Approximate Value Per Season: 8
At Cal State Fullerton, Collins played in 46 games over four seasons from 1982-1985 and collected 20 interceptions, 13 of which came in his sophomore and junior years. In the 1986 NFL Draft, Collins was selected 44th overall in the second round, one pick after Webster Slaughter went to the Cleveland Browns and two picks ahead of teammate Erik Howard. That round also yielded middle linebacker Pepper Johnson at the 51st pick. Mark is the second highest draft player out of Cal-State Fullerton in the school’s history, behind Daren Gilbert, an offensive tackle who went 38th to the New Orleans Saints in 1985.
Collins played in 112 games for Big Blue, starting 104 over eight seasons. During that tenure, he tallied 17 interceptions, four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 3.5 sacks, and more than 500 solo tackles. His best season came in 1993, his final year with the team, when he started all 16 games and had four picks, one of which went to the house against the Rams in a 20-10 September win. The 2-time Super Bowl champion also excelled in 1989 and 1991, when he totaled more than 80 solo tackles in each year, snatching 2 interceptions in the former and four in the latter.
Despite his exceptional play, Collins never made the Pro Bowl.
Mark’s honors include…
1989 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1990 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
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