Tulsa All-American linebacker Zaven Collins has won the Bednarik Award, presented each year to the best linebacker in the nation.

Collins didn’t play in TU’s bowl game and has announced he is entering the NFL Draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility.

The other two finalists for the award were Notre Dame senior linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Alabama junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

Collins has been awarded with Bronko Nagurski Trophy and first-team All-America accolades from the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, USA Today, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic and Phil Steele Magazine. 

Collins is only the second consensus All-American in school history and the first time since Golden Hurricane receiver Howard Twilley’s selection in 1965.

From Hominy, Collins has totaled 53 tackles, 11.5 TFLs for -49 yards, 4 sacks for -25 yards, 4 interceptions for 152 return yards, 2 TDs off INTs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, as well as one safety. Two of his interceptions were game-clinchers, including a pickoff against No. 19 SMU that ended any possible final scoring drive for the Mustangs and his pick-6 in overtime against Tulane that he took 96 yards for the game-winning score.

Collins was unanimously chosen as the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to earn unanimous player-of-the-year honors, while also earning first-team all-league merits.