Little did DT Kelby Collins and DE Drew Collins know that when they visited South Carolina back in 2023, they would eventually end up together in Columbia playing for the Gamecocks, but that’s the case as the brothers from Gardendale, AL, prepare to arrive for the start of classes this week. The pair, free agents from Alabama and Arkansas State, respectively, agreed to deals with South Carolina on Sunday and will finally be reunited on the football field for the first time since they were kids.
“It means the world,” younger brother Drew Collins said on Monday. “We haven’t gotten the chance to play together on the field at the same time with the same team since Little League. We played together in high school, but we really didn’t get to play together; we were just on the same team. He was in front of me, and I was behind him in the same position. I didn’t really get that opportunity to showcase my talents, which led me to transfer to another school after he graduated. Once we got the opportunity to play together, and feel like we are both equally wanted just as much, then it really was a no-brainer.”
The brothers visited USC last week, and the feeling they got from Shane Beamer and his staff was that they were both wanted for their individual skills, and both will have a chance to help out the defense.
“It was a great environment. Love South Carolina. Love the city,” Collins said. “But the coaches really stood out to both of us. A lot of schools reached, but it was kind of biased on their decisions and who they really wanted. Some of the schools mainly wanted me, but not really want him as much. Some of the schools mainly wanted him, but not really wanted me. South Carolina showed interest in both of us with their coaching staff, and how they showed love to both of us, and that really did it.”
Kelby was a heavily recruited prospect coming out of high school. He eventually signed with Florida and spent two seasons there before transferring to Alabama. During the recruiting process, he made an official visit to USC, and he had his younger brother in tow.
“He was kind of already familiar with the coaching staff, but they ended up switching some of the guys,” Drew Collins said. “My position coach, Coach Barnes, he is fresh. He just got there from Penn State. And I believe his D-line coach did as well. The rest of the staff, they kind of already knew who we were because we came in 2023.
“Their facilities were fantastic. From the strength staff and the weight room to the locker rooms, everything was just top-tier. The city really did it for me. I’m a guy that’s adventurous. I love a big city. I’m from a big city. When I was at Arkansas State, I wasn’t able to do that. If we needed anything, we’d have to go to Memphis, which is about an hour away.”
The Gamecock defensive coaches have addressed some of their needs up front by signing four players out of the Portal. Collins said he and his brother will be ready to come in and compete this spring for jobs.
“They expect high things from both of us,” Collins said. “The way that they laid everything out, they expect me to come in and be on the other side of Dylan Stewart and show all the potential that I have and put it out there on the field. They needed somebody who can come in and put pressure on the quarterback and make those plays. I feel like I’ll be that guy. And as far as him, they need somebody the run, and need somebody who can do things both inside and out.”
This past season, Kelby Collins 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.