Alex Collins, five-star RB, chooses Arkansas Razorbacks and new coach Bret Bielema

arkansasgamedayr | February 4, 2013 at 11:09 pm | 2 Comments

Newly named Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Bret Bielema speaks during a press conference to announce his hiring at the University of Arkansas. (Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports)

Alex Collins commits to Arkansas over Miami: Hawgs land 5-star running back recruit #WPS sbn.to/Y6Ieah

— SB Nation Recruiting (@SBNRecruiting) February 5, 2013

Five-star running back recruit Alex Collins announced his school of choice on Monday night. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound high school superstar has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Not only does the Plantation, Florida native have the size to make an immediate impact at the elite collegiate level, but his speed is already nearly untouchable — he runs a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.

Collins was committed to Miami in November before re-opening his recruitment. Newly hired coach Bret Bielema abruptly left Wisconsin, a school Collins visited in October, in favor of Arkansas. His moves seems to have ultimately proven to be the final decision-maker for Collins.

In his seven years in Madison, Bielema proved his commitment to dominating in the running game. Further, he has coached several superstar running backs and has always recruited fantastic offensive linemen, obviously aiding in his efforts to run the football.

Montee Ball finished his junior season as a Heisman finalist, and he leaves Madison following a senior year in which he set the all-time college football record for total career touchdowns.

Under former coaches Bobby Petrino and John L. Smith, the Razorbacks ran a spread offense. Bielema wants to run, and run a lot. The Hogs’ new coach has the resume to promise the nation’s best running backs to succeed at the very highest of levels.

Collins understood that, and promptly signed on the dotted line.