06/16/2026
“Stepping onto the court after my injury, it was unreal. The rehab that you put in, whether it’s at home, all the hours and everything, just reflecting on it as you’re stepping onto the court, as I heard my name being called for the starters — it was an honor and it was truly amazing.”
A setback can take you out of the game. But, it doesn’t have to take you out of the team. During his junior year, Collin faced a season-ending football injury that required surgery and months of recovery. The road back wasn’t easy, but his mind was tough.
Even while sidelined, Collin stayed fully invested. He never missed a practice, continued to show up for his teammates and became a steady, positive voice on the bench. His leadership didn’t pause just because he couldn’t play.
That consistency carried him through rehab and back onto the court, where he returned as a key contributor in basketball. The same energy and work ethic he brought during recovery showed up in his performance, proving that the work behind the scenes matters just as much as what happens in competition.
His story is a reminder that a true comeback isn’t only about returning to play. It’s about how you show up every step of the way. Congrats, Collin!
Video transcript
About November 2025, I completely shattered my clavicle. I broke it in three different places. I quickly went to the ER and discovered it was worse than I thought it was — had surgery about a week and a half later.
Recovery was exactly what you think it would be. It was terrible.
Stepping onto the court after my injury was unreal. The rehab that you put in, whether it’s at home or all the hours and everything, just reflecting on it as you’re stepping onto the court and heard my name being called with the starters, it was an honor, and it was truly amazing.
My initial thought was, I had taken everything for granted. I took sports and the opportunity to play with my friends for granted. Now it’s something I’m not doing anymore. I’m appreciating every moment — the hard work, the grind. I’m appreciating all of it, and I wouldn’t do that without my injury.
Watching my brother, mainly watching him play football and basketball without me, knowing that I could be helping him, helping him improve and helping the team improve too — that hurt. That hurt.
What got me through it was the support from my friends throughout the whole recovery process. Obviously, the support from my family too, but my friends coming in, helping me and supporting me — it was, it was great.
Winning the Comeback Athlete Award was an absolute honor. It’s helped me through the recovery process, I mean, I don’t know — it’s just truly an honor.
I would say to somebody else who gets injured: obviously, hit your recovery hard. I mean, do that, but also appreciate the little things. Appreciate the grind from the recovery, and it’ll ultimately help you get back to your sport and make you appreciate everything even more.
