No. 112: Bengals take OT Collins

The Bengals used their fourth-round pick on offensive tackle Anthony Collins of Kansas. He was a two-year starter and gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. He was rated as a second- to third-round pick. He is 6 feet, 5 inches, 310 pounds.

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals line coach Paul Alexander said this afternoon that Kansas tackle Anthony Collins, drafted by the team with the 112th overall pick of the weekend, is the prototypical Bengals offensive lineman.

“Big, explosive, strong, long arms (and) tough,” Alexander said of Collins, the team’s fourth-round pick.

And versatile, don’t forget versatile.

Collins, at 6 feet, 5 inches, 310 pounds, can play either tackle or guard position.

What about center?

“I could play anywhere they wanted me to play,” said Collins, who played both tackle positions in the same game at Kansas.

Collins started 23 of 24 games the past two seasons. He is an early-entry junior.

“There were four guys we really liked as a Bengals offensive lineman,” Alexander said. “When you watch film, his guy doesn’t hit the quarterback.”

The official stat sheet handed out by Bengals public relations, though, listed that Collins allowed six sacks for losses of 41 yards and three quarterback pressures in 476 pass plays.

Alexander said Collins is expected to come in and compete immediately, unlike 2004 fourth-round pick Stacy Andrews, who was a project but has developed into a top-flight lineman.

Collins played left tackle in college but might project more as a right tackle or guard in the NFL.

He played right tackle in 2006.

Collins, a first-team Associated Press All-America selection in 2007, said he could gain the necessary weight to make the move to guard.

Alexander said Collins does not play too high and has the type of body that would allow him to make the transition to guard.