‘The superstar of the county’
Former NFL running back, South Plantation High standout Alex Collins dies in motorcycle crash
Alex Collins, a South Florida high school football standout who later played for two NFL teams, died in a motorcycle crash Sunday night in Lauderdale Lakes.
Local teachers, classmates, friends and family remembered the 28-yearold Lauderhill resident Tuesday as a man whose character echoed his football ability.
“He was a wonderful teammate,” said Thomas Keene, a former assistant coach at South Plantation High School, where Collins played.
“He never chucked on drills. He always gave 100 percent. He always had time for the players that weren’t his caliber.”
The news of his death was “gut wrenching,” Keene said. “… Those of us that know him are numb.”
Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Collins was riding a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600K motorcycle east on West Oakland Park Boulevard approaching Northwest 33rd Avenue as a woman driving a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban SUV was driving west, the Broward Sheriff ’s Office said in a release Monday night.
The Chevrolet driver made a left turn onto Northwest 33rd Avenue and collided with the motorcycle while crossing the eastbound lanes, the Sheriff ’s Office said. Collins’ motorcycle crashed into the back passenger’s side of the SUV, ejecting him off the bike and into the car through the back passenger’s side window.
“The motorcycle is crushed,” a woman frantically told dispatchers after calling 911 the night of the crash.
Several callers said they couldn’t find the body.
Collins was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman driving the Chevrolet stayed at the scene and cooperated, the Sheriff’s Office said.
It is not clear whether she was injured. Her name is being withheld under Marsy’s Law, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that allows crime victims to withhold identifying information from the public.
Collins attended Dillard High School before transferring to South Plantation High School and quickly became a player to watch; even other high school coaches were attempting to recruit him, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported in 2011.
“His junior year, senior year, this kid was like the superstar of the county,” Keene said. “If you saw him off the football field you’d never know it. He didn’t carry himself that way. He wasn’t boastful.”
Collins was humble, hardworking and compassionate, those who knew him said.
Keene used to manage weightlifting at the school during the summer. Collins always found time to come in, he said, not to work out himself, but to encourage the freshmen.
His coaches knew there was something special about him.
“He’s just one of those kids that, whatever he touched was going to turn to gold, because he just had it in him,” said Nick Dellaria, a teacher at Dillard High when Collins attended, who ended up coaching him at South Plantation along with Keene. “That didn’t come from me coaching him, or calling the right plays. God went and said, ‘you got it, buddy.’ You’ve got to do with it what you can and he did everything he could with what he had. Unfortunately he didn’t know it was going to end.”
Collins also continued to have a close friendship with Doug Gatewood, the head coach at South Plantation High at the time, long after he left. Gatewood did not return a voicemail message Tuesday.
“He had a great smile, always positive, always wanting to help people,” said Bob McKinney, a former AP World History teacher at South Plantation. While Collins wasn’t his student, he often hung out in his classroom, he said, and the two would talk football together.
After high school, Collins committed to the University of Arkansas and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week in 2013.
McKinney recalled walking over to where Collins was sitting in the classroom next door when he heard the news.
“I said ‘Okay Alex, you’re going to Arkansas, you’re gonna have to learn how to call the hogs,‘” he said, referring to the school’s mascot. “He just looked at me and went, ‘what?’”
In a statement Monday night on Facebook, the football program called Collins a “legendary Razorback and an even better person.”
“His love for the Razorbacks and desire to be a Hog was undeniable. We will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Even as a freshman in college, Dellaria said, Collins was already getting attention.
“He’s a freshman, he’s supposed to be a nobody, but he was electric,” he said. “No matter where he went.”
Dominic Frazier, a former South Florida-area strength and conditioning trainer, helped Collins train for the NFL Combine, the test players take before they get drafted. He remembered Collins as a “jokester” and a hard worker. The two stayed in touch, and had just talked about a week and a half ago about meeting up again.
“He was always trying to be better,” Frazier said.
Collins played three seasons with the Seahawks and two with the Ravens and was a 2016 NFL Draft fifth-round selection, the NFL said in a statement. He would have turned 29 years old later this month.
“In five seasons, he produced 483 carries for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with another 467 yards receiving in 50 career games (29 starts), garnering smiles along the way for his post-TD Irish dance celebrations,” the NFL said. “Though he began and ended his playing days with the Seahawks (2016, 2020-2021), his best season was had with the Ravens.”
The Ravens released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday.
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of Alex Collins. Always quick to greet everyone with a smile, he was a genuinely kind person who carried a special joy and passion wherever he went,” the statement said. “May Alex always be remembered for the light and love he brought to so many people in his life.”
Head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement, “Alex was a joy to be around and someone whose light shined brightly. I’ll always remember him for being a great teammate who had an uplifting spirit that impacted everyone he encountered. He was also a smart player who ran with unlimited determination, and he contributed to a lot of our success during his time in Baltimore. We send our heartfelt condolences and support to Alex’s family. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.”
The Ravens released Collins, who played there for two seasons, ahead of the 2019 season after an arrest following a car crash in Owings Mills, near the team’s facility, the Baltimore Sun reported. He returned to the Seahawks in 2020.
Collins’ family announced his death through a statement by the Seahawks on X about 9:30 p.m.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Alex Collins this morning. Alex was cherished by his family and friends as well as supporters from all around the world,” the statement said. “All who truly know him can attest to his drive, determination, and largerthan-life personality. We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this difficult time. We ask for privacy as we navigate through our grief. We will provide updates regarding funeral arrangements as they become available.”
Collins’ last NFL season was in 2021. He most recently played with the USFL Memphis Showboats, where his career ended in May due to an injury, the NFL’s statement said.
Collins always had a good outlook, Keene said, even after setbacks. He remembered getting a note from him when he was cut from the Ravens.
“He says, ‘hey, don’t worry about me, I’m gonna survive,'” Keene said. “He was out of football for a year. And then bam, they signed him back.”