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KU lineman Collins will turn pro

Kansas left tackle Anthony Collins confirmed an earlier report by The Star that he has decided to join close friend and KU teammate Aqib Talib and declare for the NFL draft early.

“My decision was easy,” said Collins, reached on his cell phone. “I had a good game against one of the top defensive ends out there (Virginia Tech’s Chris Ellis), and I felt really good, a long way from the Missouri game. My ankle was healed. I feel like my new challenge is at the next level.”

The Star first reported on its Web site Monday afternoon that Collins would forgo his senior year at Kansas, citing Collins’ father, Harold Collins. Anthony Collins confirmed the report, saying that the chance of reinjuring his ankle was a factor in his decision. Collins hurt his ankle in the Oklahoma State game Nov. 10, sat out the Iowa State game the next week and played at less than 70 percent against Missouri.

“The injury risk was very major,” Collins said. “I felt like if I do a good job on Chris Ellis and the rest of the Virginia Tech defense, I was going to leave.”

On his early third-round projection from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, Collins isn’t worried. Like Talib, who received a second-round grade, he believes he can play his way into a higher pick.

Collins, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, was a lightly-recruited player out of high school who had only played one season of organized football before coming to Kansas. He will finish his career as an Associated Press first-team All-American and Outland Trophy finalist.