September 3, 2025
Olathe, KS – Last weekend was a special one for Nelson University Football as the Lions opened their 2025 season on the road at MidAmerica Nazarene University. While the final score showed a 13–37 loss, the moment carried a deeper meaning as it marked a reunion with former Lion quarterback CJ Collins, now coaching on the opposing sideline.
Collins joined MNU Football in the spring of 2021 as a QB coach and has made an immediate impact. He coached an All-Conference quarterback, guided Adrian Parsons to Heart of America Offensive Player of the Year honors, and helped break the school's single-game passing record with 659 yards all in his first year on staff.
Before coaching, Collins starred at quarterback for Nelson University, where he was a cornerstone of the football program for five seasons. The Waco, Texas native and Bosqueville High School graduate stamped his name all over the record books:
-
44 career games played
-
10,723 passing yards
-
85 touchdowns
-
Single-season program records for passing yards (3,209), touchdowns (31), total points (186), and passer efficiency (140.6)
-
Single-game record: 561 yards and 6 touchdowns vs. Texas Wesleyan
During his senior season, he ranked:
-
2nd in the NAIA with 320.9 passing yards per game
-
3rd in total offense per game (314.2)
-
4th in total passing yards (3,209)
After college, Collins pursued his professional football dreams, signing with the Green Bay Packers, before going on to play in the XFL with the Dallas Renegades and later Washington.
This spotlight is part of our ongoing 2027 Project, a campaign honoring 100 years of Spirit-empowered leadership at Nelson University. Through stories like CJ Collins' on the field, in the classroom, and beyond we celebrate the legacy and future of Nelson University student-athlete alum.
Find out more about the 2027 Project at: https://www.nelson.edu/advancement/project-2027/
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.
