The Seattle Seahawks have drafted our favorite Irish-dancing running back, Alex Collins, as a fifth-round pick of the 2016 NFL draft. The pick was later in the draft than expected.
However he joins a powerhouse team and recent Super Bowl champions. Seattle aee also looking to replace legendary running back Marshawn Lynch, considered one of the best running backs in decades.
Collins was Introduced to the dancing style by his high school football coach's 15-year-old daughter.
Collins joins her and her friends on a weekly basis to boost his strength and agility through Irish dancing. When he's Irish dancing Collins uses the aliases Mitchell Findley or Mitch Finn.
Collins was initially skeptical of the benefits of Irish dancing but he soon begins making weekly visits to Drake School of Irish Dance in Florida to improve both his dancing and football technique.
Collins was the second running back selected by the Seahawks in this year's draft. The 'Hawks also chose Notre Dame’s C.J. Prosise in the third round. Those two join Thomas Rawls, who is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, Christine Michael and Cameron Marshall in the competition for the Seahawks' backfield slots.
It wasn't just the massive media attention that Collins earned last week when his dancing secret was revealed that led to his being drafted by the Seahawks. He can play a little football too.
“This kid, we talk about how we characterize our run game, being big, physical, runners that run violent, he fits all those,” said Seahawks midlands area scout Aaron Hineline.
“This is a kid that is one of three backs to go over 3,000 yards in the SEC in his career. The other ones being Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden. Pretty cool, too, because the kid didn’t start until this year. It says a lot about him and his ability. Great kid. Competitive. Glad to add him to the mix, at this spot in the draft.”
Listed as 5-foot-10, 217 pounds, Collins was a 1,000-yard rusher in all three of his seasons at Arkansas, including 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
"Collins is the epitome of consistency rushing for over 1,000 yards and at least 5.4 yards per carry in each of his three seasons,” according to his NFL.com draft profile.
“Vision and footwork are the catalysts for his elusiveness and he has flashed long speed. Collins is a repetitive runner lacking dynamic talent, but he's run in gap, power and zone schemes and should be a scheme fit for most teams looking at running back.
“Collins should be able to step right in and challenge for carries and red zone work immediately."
Encouraged by his coach’s family to take the Irish dance class, Collins isn’t just looking for a few new steps for his touchdown celebration routine as the Irish dancing puts him through his paces.
“It is all about rhythm and timing in Irish dance, and so it is for the running back as well,” he said.
“Here I am always on my toes, and I really love it because it builds my lower body muscles and my calf muscles.
“I am more explosive on the field. As a running back you want to have that lower body strength and that footwork—and this is perfect place to get it.”
Are we going to see an influx of American football players donning their dancing shoes to get in the action after Collins’ success? We think they could put together some fantastic eight hands!
H/T: Seahawks.com
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