A twofer for South Carolina with the Collins family of Gardendale, AL. Sunday afternoon, DT Kelby (6-4 275) and DE Drew (6-4 238) announced via Hayes Fawcett of On3 that they had agreed to contract terms with the Gamecocks to join them for the 2026 season. The brothers had been on the move this week, checking out several programs. Along with USC, they made stops at Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State.
The Gamecocks were heavily involved with Kelby in high school. He made an official visit and had them in his final five before committing to Florida in August of 2022.
Kelby played his first two seasons at Florida before joining the Crimson Tide this season. He played in 14 games and had 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. Drew redshirted his first season at Arkansas State in 2024, then played in 12 games this season and had six tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
The Gamecocks have now signed or have commitments from a total of 16 free agents.
Kelby Collins bio from Alabama
2025
Defense Statistics
| 2025 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 3-23 | 2-20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 14 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 3-23 | 2-20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contributed in 14 games during his first season with the Tide, missing only the SEC Championship Game … totaled 12 stops, including three tackles for loss (-23 yards) and two sacks (-20 yards). Florida State: Finished with one tackle against the Seminoles. ULM: Recorded one stop in the home opener, including half a tackle for loss (-1 yard). Wisconsin: Contributed two tackles on the day. Georgia: Tallied one stop in Athens. Vanderbilt: Finished with one tackle up front against the Commodores. Missouri: Recorded one tackle on the day. Tennessee: Rotated in along the defensive front. South Carolina: Contributed up front against the Gamecocks. LSU: Saw time on the defensive line. Oklahoma: Registered one sack (-12 yards) as part of his two tackles on the day. Eastern Illinois: Notched two stops, including half a tackle for loss (-2 yards). Auburn: Rotated in along the defensive front against the Tigers. Oklahoma: Came up with a huge sack (-8 yards) in the fourth quarter to force an OU three-and-out. Indiana: Saw time in a rotational role against the Hoosiers.
2023-24 (Florida)
Spent two seasons at Florida, playing in 18 games … recorded 29 career tackles with the Gators, including 1.5 sacks (-6 yards), to go with a forced fumble and one pass breakup … notched six tackles in six games of action in 2024 … played in all 12 games as a freshman.
High School and Personal Data
A unanimous four-star recruit coming out of Gardendale High School … a top-10 defensive lineman nationally and one of the top-seven players in Alabama by all major sites … rated no lower than No. 53 nationally across all positions … received his highest rating from On3 where he was listed as the No. 4 player in Alabama, No. 5 defensive lineman in the country and the 50th-rated recruit overall … participated in the Under Armour All-America Game … also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game following his senior season.
Drew Collins bio from Arkansas State
Defense Statistics
| Season | GP | SOLO | AST | TOT | TFL-YDS | SACKS-YDS | INT | PD | FF | FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3.5-22 | 3-20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3.5-22 | 3-20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2024: Did not see game action … Redshirted … Arkansas State Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member.
High School: Graded a 3-star recruit by 247Sports.com, who tabbed him as the No. 66 player in the state of Alabama and No. 115 at his position … Had five sacks, two of which resulted in fumbles, eight tackles for loss and 54 total tackles this past season … Also played tight end and had four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown … Also offered by Austin Peay, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Troy, UAB and Western Kentucky.