Cameron Collins
EVERYDAY CHAMPION: CAMERON COLLINS Did you know Beaver junior linebacker Cameron Collins was the only freshman (redshirt) on the 2008 Pac-10 Conference All-Academic Football Team, and the First team at that? To his friends and family that’s not a surprise for the now twotime academic selection who has excelled academically as a business finance major and athletically as a safety, now linebacker. Collins earned Presidential and Centennial Awards for academics at Santa Monica (Calif.) High School which in part led to a scholarship to a prestigious Pac-10 institution. “I have an older brother (Julian, a former student-athlete at Dartmouth) who always got A’s and I was just an average student,” Collins said, while reminiscing about fifth grade. “Seeing what he could do in the classroom made me want to match that so I started to focus on academics. My parents (Gary and DeLanee Collins) did a great job of instilling the values of education as being one of the most important things you could have, so I have always tried to work my hardest at bettering myself to open doors in the future.” No doubt Collins has opened doors to what lies ahead after football, most likely a career as a financial advisor or similar occupation, but before he moves into that phase of his life he has the goal of leading the Beavers to more success on the field and part of that success depends on “Beaver Nation.” “Come to as many home games as you can, because it really makes a difference,” Collins said. “Reser Stadium is a great place to play and a packed house really amps our intensity.” A packed house is just what Collins and his teammates will see come this Saturday when Oregon State hosts Louisville in what is predicted to be a record crowd for a nonconference game. Q. Tell me about what first interested you in Oregon State? A. Before Oregon State offered me a scholarship, I really wasn’t thinking of playing football at a big-time college. Oregon State offered me a scholarship my junior year and that re-
ally sparked a fire and got me looking at what OSU had to offer. Q. When you made your visit to campus what was your impression? A. It’s a beautiful campus, anybody who visits can see that. The green trees the layout of the campus, the Bookstore and the beautiful library (Valley Library) – I liked the campus a lot right away, it’s a great place to be. Q. When you host recruits, what insight do you give them about the school? A. The community is really humble and they will take care of you here. The football program is very family oriented and that matches what the whole community is. Q. How did the BRIDGE Program help you prepare for life at OSU? A. The Bridge program was an excellent way for me to transition to what college life is all about. I really felt it gave me a head start to what life is as a college student-athlete – it’s a great program that a lot more studentathletes take advantage of now than when I came to campus. Q. What made you decide to major in business finance?
A. I knew I wanted to get into business when I first arrived at OSU. Majoring in business opens a lot of avenues, so I thought it had the most value for me. The more classes I took in finance the more I liked it. Managing money and wealth is very important, and it’s fundamentals that everyone needs; that’s why I chose that track academically. Q. Is there someone on campus who has made a big impression on you or has been an important counselor or advisor? A. I’ve had a lot of help from many people on campus, from professors to academic counselors to coaches, who have guided me on the right path. I’ve been real lucky that I have met so many great people on this campus. Q. What does having a scholarship to OSU mean to you? A. Words really can’t describe it. To have people pay for my education to play a sport that I love is indescribable. I try to pay that generosity back by my play on the field, being a good citizen of this community and using that scholarship to my full advantage. I’m never going to forget this opportunity that so many have gave me to attend Oregon State and play football. Q. What is behind your involvement in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and other on-campus and off-campus endeavors? A. I try to make it to as many Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meetings as I can, because that group helps guide policies for Athletics. Athletics has helped me out tremendously, so it’s a chance to give back to the department. Getting out in the community is important to me because the people of Corvallis and OSU have been such an important part of my experience at Oregon State. This is a great place and I want to return the favors of what so many have done for me. Q. What’s it like playing for Mike Riley? A. Everyday he is going to give you his best and he’s going to try to make you give your best. It has been an awesome experience.
Cameron Collins made the switch to linebacker prior to the 2010 season
ally sparked a fire and got me looking at what OSU had to offer. Q. When you made your visit to campus what was your impression? A. It’s a beautiful campus, anybody who visits can see that. The green trees the layout of the campus, the Bookstore and the beautiful library (Valley Library) – I liked the campus a lot right away, it’s a great place to be. Q. When you host recruits, what insight do you give them about the school? A. The community is really humble and they will take care of you here. The football program is very family oriented and that matches what the whole community is. Q. How did the BRIDGE Program help you prepare for life at OSU? A. The Bridge program was an excellent way for me to transition to what college life is all about. I really felt it gave me a head start to what life is as a college student-athlete – it’s a great program that a lot more studentathletes take advantage of now than when I came to campus. Q. What made you decide to major in business finance?
A. I knew I wanted to get into business when I first arrived at OSU. Majoring in business opens a lot of avenues, so I thought it had the most value for me. The more classes I took in finance the more I liked it. Managing money and wealth is very important, and it’s fundamentals that everyone needs; that’s why I chose that track academically. Q. Is there someone on campus who has made a big impression on you or has been an important counselor or advisor? A. I’ve had a lot of help from many people on campus, from professors to academic counselors to coaches, who have guided me on the right path. I’ve been real lucky that I have met so many great people on this campus. Q. What does having a scholarship to OSU mean to you? A. Words really can’t describe it. To have people pay for my education to play a sport that I love is indescribable. I try to pay that generosity back by my play on the field, being a good citizen of this community and using that scholarship to my full advantage. I’m never going to forget this opportunity that so many have gave me to attend Oregon State and play football. Q. What is behind your involvement in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and other on-campus and off-campus endeavors? A. I try to make it to as many Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meetings as I can, because that group helps guide policies for Athletics. Athletics has helped me out tremendously, so it’s a chance to give back to the department. Getting out in the community is important to me because the people of Corvallis and OSU have been such an important part of my experience at Oregon State. This is a great place and I want to return the favors of what so many have done for me. Q. What’s it like playing for Mike Riley? A. Everyday he is going to give you his best and he’s going to try to make you give your best. It has been an awesome experience.
Cameron Collins made the switch to linebacker prior to the 2010 season
