2024 D-lineman Collins seeing recruitment explode

FAYETTEVILLE — Few prospects nationally have seen their recruitment blow up like Mills junior defensive lineman Charleston Collins in the last few weeks. 

Collins, 6-4, 260 pounds, had five scholarship offers going into June, and Arkansas was the second program to offer him. 

After attending an LSU camp earlier in the month, he has added offers from the Tigers, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan State and SMU to go with ones from Arkansas, Colorado, Ole Miss and other schools. 

"It's all been pretty fast,” Collins said. “I blew up in a matter of a week or two after a great performance at the O-line/D-line camp at LSU. My tape got around to a few different schools. I heard it kind of went viral on YouTube, but I haven't had a chance to see that video.

"It's been really good to get out on the road, seeing different coaches, different players and different people.”

Collins, who recorded 57 tackles, 31 assisted tackles, 7 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 1 recovered fumble last year at Pine Bluff, received his offer from the Razorbacks while visiting for Arkansas’ open football practice on April 16. 

He made a return visit to Fayetteville last weekend. He arrived late Friday and visited Saturday and Sunday. 

Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams and assistant defensive line coach Keith Jones made him feel at home. 

"This visit, I can say, man, would I say the best out of all of them?” Collins said. “It's been top three, for sure. Coach Adams came and picked me up in the Hellcat yesterday, so you know I was running around with him. Me and my family went out and got some food and stuff.

"Coach Adams, Coach Glitch (Keith Jones), we just sat around and had some laughs. It was fun."

Being a 2024 prospect, Collins has a ways to go in the recruiting process, but the Razorbacks are sitting in a good spot during the early part of his recruitment. 

"I can honestly say Arkansas is sitting top five, for sure,” he said. “They've been all love from Day 1. It's always love. They reach out.”

Currently, On3.com rates Collins a 3-star recruit, the No. 22 defensive lineman and No. 235 overall prospect in the nation in the 2024 class. He is also the No. 2 recruit in Arkansas for his class.

He will likely see his stock rise over the next two seasons. 

Collins gave a rundown on his future visits plans with. Another trip to Arkansas is a possibility. 

"I've got Vanderbilt and Memphis next week,” Collins said. “Then, I'm still contemplating if I want to come back to the Hill on the 24th or if I want to go to Athens, Georgia. I got that offer like two days ago and they want me to come down before the dead period.

"I'm still iffy about both of them, but I'll make that decision real soon."

He and his mother will talk about schools, but he will be the one to make his college decision. 

“I'm in the driver's seat and she's in the passenger seat,” Collins said. “She told me from the beginning of the recruiting process that she's going to follow my lead, because it's a decision that I'm going to make with my life.

"She's just following my lead.”