In a Disappointing Penn State Season, Defensive Back Audavion Collins Has Been a Star

It hasn't all been bad this year for the Nittany Lions. Although they have never been able to get their footing, there have been at least a couple of bright spots in the Penn State team.

One of those bright spots has been defensive back Audavion Collins. Collins is one of the few positive stories left in college football is a guy like Collins. Collins has been at Penn State for all four of his college seasons. Not one transfer during his time, not even after the last coaching staff was dismissed last year.

Collins came into what is likely his final year in college football and decided to become an absolute lockdown defender. At this point in the year, he has allowed just four total completions in coverage this year.

Four. 

That number is the best in the nation among cornerbacks who have faced 150+ coverage snaps. He is fifth in the country with eight pass breakups, and when quarterbacks target him, they are completing passes at just a 26.7 percent rate.

The Nittany Lions' sore spots have by far and away been the offense. The Penn State defense has been decent. They had one real stinker against Northwestern that caught everyone by surprise, but for the most part, they have been solid from start to finish this year.

The pass defense is going to need to show up this weekend against Purdue. The Boilermakers are not what they used to be. This is a very quality opponent that is absolutely trending all the way up.

They are averaging 409 yards per game, and 280 of those come through the air. That rate is the 31st best in the country. They are lighting up 31.3 points per game, which is close to the middle of the pack at 53rd best in the country.

They will be a formidable offense for these Nittany Lions to face in a game that they absolutely need to win. 

Penn State's team this year has been a disaster from the beginning of Big Ten play. They are on a four-game losing streak, and in three of those games, they could have, should have, won. 

Even as the season has gotten completely away from them, Collins has continued to battle week in and week out. He will be recognized at the end of the year as one of the best in the conference and one of the best in the country.

He has put on for his Nittany Lions and has been a refreshing example of what college football used to be.