Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Add Graduate Transfer Punter Jake Collins
5/29/2018 1:35:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Dan and Susan Jones Family head football coach Pat Fitzgerald has announced the addition of graduate transfer Jake Collins to the Northwestern Football program.
Collins, a three-time Conference USA punter at Western Kentucky, will pursue a master's degree through Medill's Integrated Marketing Communications program.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Collins was a three-year starter for the Hilltoppers and has been named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List each of the last three seasons. He burst on the scene in 2015 to earn Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors, finishing 19th nationally in net punting average at 40.4 yards, with just 13 returns for 28 yards on his 37 punts. He downed 14 of his 37 punts inside the 20.
As a sophomore in 2016, Collins served as WKU's primary punter in all 14 games and finished the year with a 42.7 yard per punt average. His 42.7 yard per punt average was the third-best single-season mark in school history.
Collins earned Conference USA Honorable Mention honors as a redshirt junior in 2017 and was also named to the Conference USA Preseason Team. He finished his junior campaign with 57 punts for 2,290 yards (40.1/average), downing 19 punts inside the 20 and booming seven punts over 50 yards.
Collins prepped at St. Xavier in Louisville where he was a place kicker and punter for the Tigers. Collins finished his senior year going 10-of-14 on field goals with a season-long of 45 yards. In the punt game, Collins averaged 37 yards per punt over 35 punts for 1295 yards with a season-long of 51 yards. He also picked up MVP honors in the 2013 Best of the Bluegrass game and was a 2013 6A All-District teamer.
Northwestern wrapped up the 2017 campaigned with a 24-23 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to earn its second-straight bowl victory for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return seven starters on offense and defense, including All-Big Ten honorees Clayton Thorson, Tommy Doles, Paddy Fisher, Joe Gaziano, Nate Hall, Samdup Miller and Charlie Kuhbander.
Chicago's Big Ten Team features the best home schedule in the nation in 2018 with Ryan Field playing host to Duke, Akron, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Season ticket information is available at NUSports.com and by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
Collins, a three-time Conference USA punter at Western Kentucky, will pursue a master's degree through Medill's Integrated Marketing Communications program.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Collins was a three-year starter for the Hilltoppers and has been named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List each of the last three seasons. He burst on the scene in 2015 to earn Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors, finishing 19th nationally in net punting average at 40.4 yards, with just 13 returns for 28 yards on his 37 punts. He downed 14 of his 37 punts inside the 20.
As a sophomore in 2016, Collins served as WKU's primary punter in all 14 games and finished the year with a 42.7 yard per punt average. His 42.7 yard per punt average was the third-best single-season mark in school history.
Collins earned Conference USA Honorable Mention honors as a redshirt junior in 2017 and was also named to the Conference USA Preseason Team. He finished his junior campaign with 57 punts for 2,290 yards (40.1/average), downing 19 punts inside the 20 and booming seven punts over 50 yards.
Collins prepped at St. Xavier in Louisville where he was a place kicker and punter for the Tigers. Collins finished his senior year going 10-of-14 on field goals with a season-long of 45 yards. In the punt game, Collins averaged 37 yards per punt over 35 punts for 1295 yards with a season-long of 51 yards. He also picked up MVP honors in the 2013 Best of the Bluegrass game and was a 2013 6A All-District teamer.
Northwestern wrapped up the 2017 campaigned with a 24-23 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to earn its second-straight bowl victory for the first time in program history. The Wildcats return seven starters on offense and defense, including All-Big Ten honorees Clayton Thorson, Tommy Doles, Paddy Fisher, Joe Gaziano, Nate Hall, Samdup Miller and Charlie Kuhbander.
Chicago's Big Ten Team features the best home schedule in the nation in 2018 with Ryan Field playing host to Duke, Akron, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Season ticket information is available at NUSports.com and by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
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