Prospect Scouting Profile – Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
It’s officially draft season and I am continuing my prospect scouting profile series. These are information-packed breakdowns that you don’t want to miss.
Player Introduction
Zyon McCollum is a playmaking star cornerback from the FCS school Sam Houston State Bearkats, who he helped lead to a national championship in 2020. He’s a big physical ball-hawking cornerback, who has an excellent athletic and size combination. While he may not have the big-name recognition of the stars in this class, he does possess the big-time game that they have. McCollum has the all-around game to fill the box score each week and make an impact at the next level. With his impressive performance at the combine, McCollum is a name that you will definitely hear during draft weekend.
Combine Measurables
Height – 6’2”
Hands – 9”
Weight – 199 LBS
Arms – 30¼”
Wing Span – 81”⅛
Vertical - 39½”
Broad Jump - 132”
Speed – 4.33 sec
3-Cone Drill- 6.48 sec
20-yd Shuttle - 3.94 sec
Ametuer Notes & Accloades
McCollum was a super senior cornerback for the Sam Houston State Bearkats and is now a prospect preparing for the NFL draft. He was born in Galveston, Texas where he was rated as a three-star prospect out of Ball High School. McCollum was named the team’s captain, MVP, and unanimous all-county selection. He also earned 2015 District 23-5A all-district 2nd team and 2016 District 23-5A all-district 2nd team honors. McCollum would decide to commit to Sam Houston State as they were the first to offer him and his twin brother, as well as being able to make an immediate impact.
In 2017 as a true freshman McCollum would play in all 14 games while making ten starts at cornerback. He would register 42 tackles, with 30 being solos, one tackle for a loss, one sack, three interceptions, and 17 PBUs. McCollum would be the first freshman since 2001 and the first true freshman to record three interceptions in a season since 1973. He would produce six tackles and one interception in each of the Bearkats playoff wins over South Dakota (12/2/17) and Kennesaw State (12/9/17).
For an encore sophomore season, McCollum would not disappoint. For the 2018 campaign, he would play and start all 11 games for Sam Houston State. On the season he would produce 44 tackles, with 29 being solos, 1½ tackles for a loss, ½ a sack, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and 11 PBUs. McCollum would earn All-Southland conference 1st team honors for his season performance.
In 2019 as a junior McCollum who play in and start nine games for the Bearkats. He would miss the final three games after suffering a season-ending injury versus Central Arkansas (10/26/19). For the season, McCollum would record 23 tackles, with 16 being solos, 2½ tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and 11 PBUs. The first player with three consecutive seasons with three-plus interceptions and 10+ PBUs to begin their career. McCollum would earn All-Southland Conference 2nd team honors for the season.
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The 2020/2021 split season was a weird one, but McCollum played and started all ten games for Sam Houston State. He would record 46 total tackles, 31 being solos, three tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, and seven PBUs. McCollum had a key interception in the playoff semifinal win over James Madison. That pick would give him ten for his career making him just one of seven players in Sam Houston State history to reach that mark. For the second time, McCollum would earn All-Southland conference 1st team honors and help lead the Bearkats to a National Championship.
McCollum would decide to return for a super senior season with the Bearkats. The desire to run it back for a second championship run and to improve his draft stock would prove to be the right decision. He would start all 12 games for the Bearkats and produce career-best in tackles (50), solos (39), while adding two tackles for a loss, three interceptions, eight PBUs, and one blocked kick. McCollum would earn All-Southland conference 1st team honors for the third time.
McCollum was a highly successful and decorated player during his time with the Bearkats. A three-time 1st team All-Southland Conference selection, AP All-American 3rd team, Phil Steele All-American 2nd team, 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl invite, 2022 Senior Bowl invite, Buck Buchanan Award watch list, and 2022 NFL Combine invite.
Career Stats
Games – 56
Starts – 52
Tackles – 205
Solos – 145
TFLs – 10
Sacks – 1½
Interceptions - 13
PBUs – 54
FF – 6
Blocked Kicks - 1
Scouting Report
Positives
McCollum is a big physical corner with speed to burn. He is as experienced and talented as any cornerback in the draft. McCollum has extremely good instincts, ball skills, and routinely contests downfield throws. He has sound footwork with minimal false steps and can play both press and zone coverage. McCollum is a solid tackler who plays through the target. He maintains balance, stays patient, and doesn’t overreact when beaten. McCollum has good closing speed and range, with the ability to deflect or snatch away would be catches by receivers. He displays the fluidity in his hips to be able to mirror receivers at the next level.
McCollum does a nice job of attacking the catch point and disrupting passes. He does a solid job in run defense and attacks the run aggressively. McCollum has added value as a core special teams option as well as the potential to play safety if needed. Unlike most small school prospects, he’s a legitimate NFL-caliber type player that can be more than just a special teams contributor. McCollum is super athletic and was the only cornerback at the combine to finish in the top 5 in the three major categories, 40-yard (4.33), vertical jump (39½”), and broad jump (132”).
Negatives
While McCollum has a very nice size and frame, he could stand to add 10-12 lbs to his frame, to hold up against the bigger-sized NFL receivers. He doesn’t possess a lot of twitchiness in his movements, which could be an issue with initial separation by receivers. McCollum can at times look for the “big hit or big play” a little too much, instead of making the sure tackle.
There will be questions about the competition level he faced in college and if he can produce at the same level in the NFL, as it’s a big jump from the FCS. At Sam Houston State, McCollum played mainly in man coverage, so there will be questions on how he can perform in man coverage.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capitol – Fourth Round
Expected Role – Solid rotational player/backup
Summary
McCollum checks off nearly if not all the boxes for a cornerback in this draft class. He possesses the size, length, and speed to make an impact at the next level. A cover 3 corner who with some development can become a solid rotational player at the NFL level. McCollum’s versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary will appeal to most teams as a chess piece they can be creative with. After testing extremely well at the NFL Combine there will be a lot of teams taking a much closer look at him. McCollum could be the 1st Sam Houston State defensive back selected in the NFL draft since 1989.
You can also listen here to the interview I did with Zyon McCollum on the Devy IDP Grind podcast last summer or read it here.
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Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy.
