Familiar face to throw javelin for Tommie Men's Track

March 9, 2004
Good depth and excellent athletes have helped St. Thomas build a great tradition in track and field. The Tommies have won all 20 MIAC indoor team titles and 19 of the last 21 outdoor team crowns. Thirty-two different athletes scored in last weekend's 200-point winning total at the conference meet.

A new face on the 2004 outdoor team is actually an old face -- former football star Ryan Collins, who's finishing up his degree requirements this spring, will throw the javelin. Although he's never competed in track and field or thrown the javelin, Collins' 6-foot-6 frame, competitive nature, and strong arm (he played quarterback in his early football days) should help him in his attempt.

How Collins will fare as a Division III trackman is uncertain. But perhaps it's no coincidence that the Tommie school-record holder in the javelin, Neal Guggemos, also played five seasons of pro football. Guggemos threw 219 feet back in 1982, although the actual javelin has been slightly modified in years since. Former Tommie QB Greg Kaiser, who threw to Collins in his senior football season of 1997, threw the "modified" javelin 206 feet as a senior in 2000 to share the school record.

A June 2003 torn knee ligament kept Collins, an ex-St. Thomas All-American, from playing his final game of the 2003 season in NFL Europe and probably cost him a shot with an NFL team last fall. Unless a long-snapping chance comes up, Collins said he's probably finished with pro football. He hopes to return to his hometown of Robbinsdale and coach high school football again next fall.

Last May 31, Collins caught three passes for 30 yards to help the Amsterdam Admirals post a 51-43 win over Berlin in a game that set an NFL Europe record for points scored. But he hurt his knee when tackled while trying to gain more yardage.

Collins finished 2003 with 23 receptions for 228 yards and three TDs in eight games. His team was eliminated from contention for the two-team World Bowl.

That was the sixth pro season for the 28-year-old Collins. He's played with seven different pro teams since he finished his collegiate career at St. Thomas in the fall of 1997.

Collins was slowed by an ankle injury and missed the Admirals' first game April 5.

Also starring for the Admirals are former Viking WR Matthew Hatchette, Viking backup QB Shaun Hill and former Gopher RB Tellis Redmon.

In 2002, Collins was one of 25 players named to the All-NFL Europe team. Voting was conducted by coaching staffs, media and fans, with 11 players honored on both offense and defense and three on special teams. He finished his 10-game season with 34 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns. That ranked him fifth in NFL Europe in overall receptions and first in catches by tight ends. He caught four passes for 49 yards for the Amsterdam Admirals (4-6) in their season-ending victory over first-place Rhein Fire.

Later in 2002, Collins was in training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released in the final cutdown.

Collins started his pro career in 1998 as an undrafted free agent and made the Minnesota Viking practice squad player. After starting the 1999 season with the Cleveland Browns in their expansion year, he was released in October 1999. He signed with Baltimore, where he started two games in December 1999 before suffering a broken ankle. He was cut from the Ravens in training camp in August 2000 after he came out of May mini-camp competing for the Ravens' starting job. That summer's acquisitions of All-Pro tight ends Ben Coates and Shannon Sharpe greatly diminished Collins' opportunity. The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl that season.

Collins played in 2001 with the New Jersey Hitmen of the now defunct XFL as a deep snapper and tight end. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001 but was cut in training camp.