How is Michigan State transfer RB Elijah Collins blending in with Oklahoma State football?

STILLWATER — Once Elijah Collins walked into the Oklahoma State football facility last January, he immediately was the team’s biggest, oldest and most experienced running back.

And the super-senior transfer from Michigan State could’ve brought an attitude to match.

He had been a lead back on a team in the tougher-than-tough Big Ten Conference. He had played alongside a back who went on to quick NFL success.

But Collins, a Detroit native, arrived in the west end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium with a humble focus and a thirst for knowledge.

“He really came in and studied and learned,” said redshirt sophomore running back Jaden Nixon. “As soon as he got here, he was like, ‘Hey, Coach Woz (running backs coach John Wozniak), can I get this?’ Or, ‘Hey, let’s go watch film.’ He’s always up there at the office. Even if we have yoga, he’s there.

“He works hard. He really wants to be a part of the team. It’s not like he showed up and is like, I’m that guy. He came in, he’s learning and he’s a really cool guy to be around. I already love him.”

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As for what Collins’ role looks like in the fall, that is yet to be determined.

The Cowboys have Nixon, who has shown a knack for big plays and versatility as a receiver out of the backfield, as well as Ollie Gordon, the bruiser who flashed his potential as a true freshman last season. And Texas A&M transfer Deondre Jackson, who arrived last summer and gradually grew into a more noticeable role, continues to develop.

So the running back room isn’t devoid of capable backs. And all have had varying levels of success on the field. But the mix of snaps and carries will be an evolving discussion.

“We saw development with the young guys, and Elijah comes in and gives us a little bit more from a maturity standpoint,” head coach Mike Gundy said of the group’s growth in spring. “He’s very mature. The one thing I’ve appreciated with the new guys coming in is it’s the first time, really, you have veteran guys who are 22, 23 years old that are at a new school and their excitement level is high because they want to be here, they chose to be here.

“I think he’s a good example of that. He’s always in a good mood, always smiling, always at the office. I’m excited to watch him develop.”

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Collins’ best college season came in 2019 when, as a redshirt freshman, he rushed for 988 yards and five touchdowns on 222 carries. He shared the lead role in 2020, and in 2021, Kenneth Walker III transferred in from Wake Forest and put together a 1,600-yard season that led to him winning the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards, as well as becoming a second-round NFL draft pick.

Last season, Collins was a secondary back, but rushed for 318 yards on 70 carries and a career-high six touchdowns.

“He’s so versatile,” said Gordon, who is OSU’s leading returning back after rushing for 308 yards and two touchdowns on 62 carries. “One minute, he’ll be running you over, the next minute, he’s in a phone booth making you miss. I would like to be better at making people miss in open field instead of just running ‘em over, so I could learn a thing or two from Elijah.”

Perhaps the most unique quality Collins brings to the running back room is his personal background having grown up in the Motor City, while the rest of OSU’s backs are from the South and Midwest.

“I feel like you can really learn a lot, just because it’s different personalities when it comes down to it,” said Nixon, who grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. “You’ve been taught and raised certain ways, and people like Elijah, he comes from all the way up north. He’s from Michigan and I’m from Texas. That’s a big difference.

“So we’ve learned how to communicate and grow and work together. Even just playing styles, how one player might move. Each back is different and has different things to offer, so we’re all learning from each other and helping each other.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Michigan State transfer Elijah Collins blending in with OSU football