The recruiting process is back open for Phillips senior standout quarterback Dewayne Collins due to an admissions issue with Illinois State, the school he had been committed to since the beginning of his senior season.
“Dewayne has heard from several schools today and he is excited at the opportunity to find a new home for the next four years,” Phillips coach Troy McAllister said. “We are all just trying to find the right fit for him. Southern Illinois is the first of many offers we expect in the next couple days.”
Collins, who was the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, added an offer from Southern Illinois just hours after he decided to reopen the recruiting process. He will likely visit the campus this weekend.
“He is a full NCAA qualifier and we feel it is in his best interest to explore all his options in the next two weeks,” Phillips defensive coordinator Michael Larson said.
Prior to the Class 4A state championship game, Collins passed for 1,370 yards, rushed for 1,843 (averaging nearly 10 yards per carry) and accounted for 42 touchdowns.
“Teams each and every week have to game-plan around Dewayne, asking themselves, ‘How do we stop this kid?’ ” McAllister said. “That changes the whole output for our offense.”
Collins passed for over 2,000 yards and ran for over 2,000 yards as a junior — and picked up plenty of recruiting attention while doing so.
“We feel that he is one of the best athletes in the state and can help a four-year Division I school next year,” Larson said. “What he is looking for is a four-year Division I program that can utilize his skill set.”
Fellow Phillips senior and Scout.com three-star defensive back Jamal Brown remains committed to Illinois State.
