There's a bit of a European flavour in the NFL Draft this year. The draft, which allows NFL teams to pick the best of the talent from college football every year gets under way tonight.
There's a German wide receiver that's been getting some buzz - but for Irish fans running back Alex Collins is one to watch out for.
Why? Because Collins is hoping that his background in Irish dancing will have helped him impress NFL scouts. Battling with other running backs to be the third one selected behind generational talent Ezekiel Elliott and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry - Collins thinks that his dancing sets him apart on the football field:
It looks like it works for Collins too. According to his draft profile on NFL.com, his ability to change directions with good footwork is listed as a big strength of his game:
Able to weave in, out and around traffic without breaking his speed or tempo. Has foot quickness and agility to avoid the backfield traffic and the instant acceleration to get the run back underway.
Collins is no chancer either. He's been highly-rated for a while - being a top recruit out of college, and becoming the first freshman in college to record three 100-yard-games in a row to begin his college career. That's something that hadn't been done since Adrian Petersen did it for Oklahoma in 2004.
Collins is unlikely to be drafted in tonight's first round - he has a good chance to be selected in Friday's round two or three.
The daugher of his high-school football coach introduced him to Irish dancing in 2011, and after debating whether it was a real sport with her for years - decided to give it a try.
He started seeing how it could help him, and has been practising every week since:
It is all about rhythm and timing in Irish dance, and so it is for the running back as well. Here I am always on my toes, and I really love it because it builds my lower body muscles and my calf muscles. I am more explosive on the field. As a running back you want to have that lower body strength and that footwork—and this is perfect place to get it.
He might gain a few new Irish fans and followers from it - and it'll be interesting to see if his career takes off whether other players follow in his quick footsteps.
