The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former Football player Jack Collins, Jr., passes away
08.11.2023 | Football
The younger part of the first father-son duo to be inducted into the UT Athletics Hall of Honor, Collins, Jr., was an All-Southwest Conference halfback on Darrell Royal’s teams from 1959-61.
Austin – Longhorn legend and Hall of Honor member Jack Collins, Jr., passed away this week at the age of 82.
Known as a consummate teammate, Collins demonstrated it throughout his time playing for Darrell Royal as a halfback with the Texas Football team between 1959 and '61, and later during his highly successful career as a banking official. He and his father, Jack Collins, Sr., who was a three-sport star for the Longhorns in the 1930s, have the distinction of being the first father-son duo to be inducted into the UT Hall of Honor. The younger Collins was enshrined in 1982 after his father was inducted in 1976.
Prior to his time at Texas, Collins, Jr., was a highly sought after halfback out of Highland Park High School in Dallas in 1957, and never considered any school but UT after visiting campus. In a great year for running backs, Collins was one of the best in the state. He spearheaded Highland Park to an 11-1 record and the Class 4A state championship, rushing for 1,473 yards, catching passes for another 600 yards and scoring 148 points. In the state final against Port Arthur, Collins rushed for 114 yards in a 21-9 win. However, his most memorable prep moment probably came in the state semifinals, when he broke a 20-20 tie with Abilene with a 58-yard touchdown pass, snapping the three-time defending state champions' 49-game winning streak.
Collins moved on to a standout career at Texas, earning All-Southwest Conference honors as a sophomore in 1959. A member of the Longhorn freshman team in 1958 when freshmen were not eligible for varsity, he was one of the prized recruits in the early years of the Royal era. A versatile player who starred on offense, defense and special teams, Collins helped Texas to a 26-6-1 record and a 16-4 mark in Southwest Conference games in three varsity seasons. The Longhorns won two conference titles and finished the year ranked among the top-four twice from 1959-61, as Collins and his class helped Royal, who came to UT in 1957, build a dynasty in Austin.
In 1958, Collins and the freshman squad gave a strong indication of what was to come as they rolled to a 5-0 record. He displayed his knack for contributing to the team in many ways in his first year on campus, rushing for 130 yards and three touchdowns, catching three passes, returning punts and kickoffs, intercepting a pass, and even punting, where he averaged 39.0 yards per punt. That set the tone for an outstanding three-year run with the varsity.
His first game with the varsity in 1959 came at Nebraska, and he found out just before the contest it would also be his first start. He scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run in Texas' 20-0 win over the Huskers. The team then returned to Austin to face Maryland, and Collins broke off an 86-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. It was the second-longest run in UT history at the time, and still stands tied for seventh today. Later that season, he caught a 61-yard touchdown pass against Oklahoma that was third-longest in program history and still ranks 11th.
the 1960 issue of Texas Football featuring
Collins on the cover.
The do-it-all Collins led the 1959 team in total yards (547), rushing attempts (89), rushing yards (450), receptions (8), receiving yards (134), and receiving touchdowns (3), while also rushing for four touchdowns, completing 7-of-11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, returning punts and kickoffs, and recording 11 tackles and an interception as a defensive back. The team posted a 9-2 overall record, shared the Southwest Conference title, played in the Cotton Bowl against No. 1 Syracuse, and finished ranked No. 4 in the nation.
One of Collins' most recognizable moments followed when he became the first person featured on the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine in 1960. That season, Collins was third on the team in rushing with 238 yards and tied for the lead with three rushing touchdowns. He also continued to contribute to all other facets of the game with a receiving touchdown, a touchdown pass, returning kicks and playing defense, where he notched an interception and a fumble recovery. The Longhorns went 7-3-1 with all three defeats by a touchdown or less, including two by just one point against Nebraska and Arkansas. Texas beat Oklahoma and Texas A&M that year, along with a win at No. 11 Baylor on the way to the Bluebonnet Bowl, which resulted in a 3-3 tie to No. 9 Alabama.
During his senior year of 1961, his selfless qualities truly showed as Royal installed the Flip Flop offense to get the ball to James Saxton more often, realizing the value of Collins blocking for Saxton. Collins did just that, helping Saxton to All-America honors that season. Meanwhile, Collins was still second on the team with 13 receptions, 152 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to go along with 175 yards rushing. The Longhorns spent the entire season ranked in the top-six, finishing 11-1 with a share of the SWC championship and capping the year with a win over No. 5 Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl that led to a No. 3 final ranking. The one loss came by an out-of-character score of 6-0 to TCU despite the fact Texas had won its first eight games by an average score of 33-7. The Longhorns then rebounded for a 25-0 win over Texas A&M to finish the regular season.
After a brief time in pro football with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, Collins entered the world of finances and banking. He first joined the Republic National Bank of Dallas, then after 10 years, he left for Austin as a senior vice president in the commercial load department at First City Bank in 1974. He became president in 1978 and went on to a successful 45-year career in the industry.
Details related to services will be announced at a later time.
