Dylan Collie should complete family legacy and play final season at BYU

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BYU coaches Fesi Sitake (left) and Jeff Grimes (right) on their visit to recruit Dylan Collie (Source: @23Collie Twitter feed).


On Wednesday, those recruits who didn't sign their National Letter of Intent (LOI) during the early signing period in December will fax in their Signed LOI.  Most likely, that's when we'll learn if Dylan Collie will complete his family's legacy at BYU, for this generation. As a graduate transfer, he isn't bound by the same requirements that the NCAA has in place for high school students.

Whether he signs or not, it is already very clear what people think he should do. In a recent survey conducted by Blue Cougar Football, everyone except their dog, answered affirmative to the question "Should Dylan Collie transfer to BYU?" There was just one "no" response. The official poll results are below.
Official Results
98% Yes
2% No
Keep in mind, the question was worded "should" not "do you want." Given the family history, the obvious answer to "do you want" would be yes. Using "should" turns the meaning of a yes response into BYU being the best place for Collie to achieve his football and professional goals.

Reports indicate that Collie has already narrowed his choices down to BYU and Vanderbilt. The Commodores offer a very attractive education, as well as the opportunity to showcase his talents against SEC defenses. At 5'10" and 175 pounds, he needs to do something to show NFL scouts that he can compete against top talent.

Vanderbilt lost two of its top three wide receivers from last season. Vandy is also getting a new receivers coach, which would help reduce the challenge of fighting for recognition from a coach who has seen the other guys for two or three years.  I don't think the new coach is going to be able to do much about Vanderbilt's inability to put wide receivers in the NFL.

Several coaches have come and gone in the last 25 years, and just two Commodore wide outs have been drafted since 1992. One, however, was 5'11" Earl Bennett. Having a guy without prototypical NFL measurables make it is probably encouraging to Collie, but it should be noted that was in 2008.

Vanderbilt is looking to replace its starting quarterback, too. Sad to say, though, the experience BYU brings back at the quarterback spot isn't much better.

BYU's track record for receivers getting to the NFL, also, isn't much better. However, that was before BYU hired Aaron Roderick as an assistant coach. Roderick has seen several of his wide receivers from Utah make it into the NFL. He has contacts and a reputation that can play in Collie's favor come draft day next year.

The 2018 schedule is pretty stout. Collie will have plenty of opportunities to face quality defenses and show he belongs on an NFL roster.

BYU returns all its receivers from 2017, except Jonah Trinnaman. Nevertheless, Collie shouldn't let that scare him, according to one respondent.
However, in my opinion, there are two other reasons that make BYU the better school for Collie.

1. Locker Room Fit.
Collie may go to Vanderbilt and be one of the top two or three wide outs, but as a married, return missionary he might not be a great fit in the locker room. Whereas, at BYU, he has grown up with the LDS culture, and will have no problem fitting in. Since he only has one season left to play, and looks to miss spring ball, he can't afford to spend half the season working on chemistry to become one of the guys.

2. Complete the Collie family legacy.
Collie's father and two older brothers have played for BYU. Since there isn't a clear academic or NFL potential advantage to Vanderbilt, follow the family tradition. Twenty years from now when football is a distant sight in the rear-view mirror, he doesn't want to be the odd man out at family gatherings who has no stories to share about his BYU playing days.

In fact, he could be the hero. Right now, the Bellini family holds the title of greatest receiving family in BYU history. Brothers Matt and Mark combined for 350 receptions, 5,064 yards receiving, and 38 touchdowns.

The table below shows the current career stats for the Collie family.

Collie Family Career Stats

 Rec.   Yards   TD
 Scott (1979-82) 
 44
 706
 4
 Zac (2005-06)
 37
 535
 4
 Austin (2004, 07-08) 
 215
 3,255
 30
 Totals 
 296
 4,466
 38

There is already a tie between the Bellini brothers and the Collies for touchdowns, but Dylan Collie would need 54 receptions and 600 yards to get the Collie totals to match that of the Bellini's.

Those numbers are reasonable. Remember, Jordan Leslie came to BYU as a graduate transfer in 2014. He was the second leading receiver with 55 receptions for 779 yards and six touchdowns. Leslie accumulated those numbers with backup quarterback Christian Stewart playing most of the season.

While BYU is the easy, emotional pick, after weighing the options rationally, it is hard to see Dylan Collie transferring anywhere but BYU.

Thank you to everyone who voted. A breakdown of the votes from each polling source is below.

 BCF 
 Vote Breakdown 
Twitter 
86% (6)
Yes 
100% (44)
14% (1)
No 
0% (0)
100% (7)
Total 
 100% (44) 


The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

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