Prep Football: Princeton's Collins earns Week 5 Player of the Week honors

Princeton’s offensive coaches have had to get creative in getting the ball to their best player.

Wide receiver Dominick Collins has seen nearly every possible coverage and shell in an attempt to slow him down. It’s mostly been futile as he’s still amassed 581 yards and nine touchdowns through five games.

His latest offering in a 42-0 win at Tazewell, Va. was a five-catch, 140-yard receiving performance in which the speedy senior scored twice.

For his efforts, Collins has been named the Week 5 Lootpress Player of the Week by the Lootpress sports writers.

The award is sponsored by Little General, The Northside Automotive Group, Dutch Miller Auto and The Law Offices of Brandon Steele. The Kanawha Valley Player of the Week winner will be announced Thursday.

Cooper Ridgeway received the most votes in the Community Choice poll and will be entered into a final poll at the end of the season for a $500 scholarship.

The play that sums up Collins’ stellar Week 5 night came when he caught his second touchdown.

On the play, Collins was guarded at the line by two Tazewell defenders, similar to what a gunner on a punt return might see. Collins released outside and blew by the defense for a score.

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While the alignment and look was new for Collins, the strategy wasn’t as the star’s been the focal point for opposing defenses all season.

“Getting off the line has been the most important thing,” Collins said. “Just trying to get past that bracket or double team whenever they’re on me. My coaches, we’ve got an incredible offensive coordinator who knows how to put me in the right spot at the right time to get past the double team and really it’s thanks to him I’m able to do it.”

The different looks have also helped Collins, who aspires to play at the next level. He was clocked running a 4.25 40-yard dash at WVU’s camp as well as others he attended last offseason. He understands it takes more than speed to win and be successful which is why he’s honed the nuances of the position, putting him in the spot to beat the different looks he sees.

“Just getting off the line because a bunch of coaches told me to work on that,” Collins said. “Sinking my hips, just really perfecting my craft at receiver has really helped me and going to all these camps. It’s helped me get past all these brackets and double teams.”

Having already broken all of the program’s single-season receiving records during last year’s playoff campaign, Collins hopes to best those marks of 58 catches for 1,019 yards and 19 touchdowns. With five games left, he’s on pace to catch 46 passes for 1,162 yards and 18 scores.

“I’d like to beat those records,” Collins said. “I want the ball in my hands, but we’ve also got a bunch of guys on the field that can win the football game for us and they have proven that when I get double and triple teamed. They’ve really stepped up and that’s what they’ve got to do – be leaders.”

Collins, the reigning Lootpress receiver of the year will be honored at the Lootpress Player of the Year Banquet later this year.