Collins works to be best on the field

Dennis Collins came into the season as one of the most touted defensive ends in the state. Nothing the 6-foot-3 senior has done in the first two regular season games has changed his stature.

“Dennis is so good technically,” West Monroe defensive line coach Jeremy Many said. “He is a kid, in my short time working with him, he does the little things right. He is a guy that is rarely going to make a mistake.”

Collins, a TCU commit, continues to disrupt running lanes and breathing down the neck of opposing quarterbacks yet remains unsatisfied.

“I won’t stop until I am the No. 1 player in the country and we win a state championship,” Collins said. “I will keep on driving myself.”

Collins joins a long line of West Monroe players to join the TCU Horned Frogs. J.T. McFarland, Chucky Hunter, Terrell Lathan and Connor Osborne moved on to TCU after graduation. Former Neville players John Diarse and KaVontae Turpin as well as Bastrop product Isiah Graham also play for the Horned Frogs in 2016.

West Monroe is coming off a 27-13 loss to No. 16 John Curtis (No. 16 USA Today/No. 2 LSWA) at the Battle on the Border in Shreveport.

West Monroe (1-1) travels to Madison, Mississippi on Friday to take on Madison Central at 7 p.m.

Collins credits Many with helping him mature on the field since the spring when Many joined the staff at his alma mater (Class of 1994 and member of first 5A state title team in 1993).

“He brings intensity out there as a younger coach,” Collins said. “He has the mindset of a champion.”

Many pointed out the intensity that Collins brings as a player that is going full force every play.

“He has great stamina,” Many said. “He never slows down.”

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