Recruiting Wrap

Donald Collier out of the shadows

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Friday, September 4, 2009 8:47 AM

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Cahokia (Ill.) opponents spend most of their defensive preparation worrying about Comanches standout wide receiver and Missouri commit Jimmie Hunt. But teams would be wise not to forget about the receiver standing across the field, Donald Collier.

O'Fallon seemed to make that mistake in week one, as the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Cahokia senior caught three passes for 108 yards to help lead the Comanches to an 8-3 win.

As good as Collier is as a receiver - he caught a team-high 38 passes for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior - he's just as talented at cornerback. Collier has a school-record 11 interceptions, Cahokia coach Antwyne Golliday said.

Collier has earned early recruiting interest from several Divison I schools, including Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Michigan State, Missouri and Northern Illinois.

"The bigger schools are looking at him as a defensive back, corner back," Golliday said. "The smaller schools are looking at him as an athlete. He can play either way. It just depends on what he wants to do. If he wants to play at a smaller school, he can play wide receiver. If he wants to go big-time, he'll play cornerback. It's just about what the schools need."

Golliday said Illinois continues to monitor his players, including Collier.

"I tell you what, Illinois is just kind laying back to see if the kids academics are all right," Golliday said. "They still talk to them. One thing I'll say about Coach (Reggie) Mitchell, he's the recruiting coordinator in our area, he don't mess with kids. He kind of just lets you know, 'Hey, I'm here.' He lets you know he's going to call them every week. He lets the kids do what they do. You got to love that. He don't pressure the kids."
Collier currently has no scholarship offers. Golliday said schools want to see more from Collier on film before extending an offer.

"The year he had last year was kind of a breakout year," Golliday said. "Everybody just wants to make sure it wasn't a fluke year. I don't want to put pressure on the kids. I just tell them, 'Do what you do and things will work out.'"

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