Upon being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2013, Collins helped lead a Bulldogs team that finished in the Top 5 in the
SEC in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense. In 2014, Collins' Mississippi State defense led the SEC in sacks and had the conference's No. 1 Red Zone defense en route to a 10-3 record. Collins spent two years as the defensive coordinator at
Florida underneath
Jim McElwain. While with the Gators,
Collins oversaw a defense that ranked No. 6 in scoring defense in 2016 and No. 11 in 2015.[5] During the 2015 season, Collins' defense became just the seventh team in the last 20 years to not allow a touchdown against three FBS Power 5 schools on the road in the same season.
[1] During his time at Florida, Collins coached five defensive players that were drafted in the
2016 NFL Draft and produced a consensus All-American in
Vernon Hargreaves.