Interview: Prepare to Learn Name of Dorsey 2020 RB JoJuan Collins this Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There was a repeated bolt of lightning streaking across the field for Mater Dei High School’s freshman team during the 2016 season. The electric charge out of the Monarchs’ backfield was a mixture of speed and strength capable of shocking onlookers while striking down hopeful defenders crossing its path. The name on the front of the jersey may be different in 2017 but the high expectations for that bolt of lightning named JoJuan Collins remains the same during his sophomore season.

There are many truisms about the game of football with one of them being speed, strength, athleticism, and talent travels. That complete package rolled up into 2020 running back JoJuan Collins is now sporting a Dorsey High School jersey, but the product on the field remains the same. Shockingly, Dorsey enters the 2017 season as an underdog despite having great senior leadership in guys like tight end Isaiah Smalls (Oregon State), defensive end Tim Mosley, and defensive backs Zavion Avery and Joseph Williams. The 2019 class is bolstered by guys like end/outside linebackers Mark Blocker and Logan Bush. The addition of Collins, paired with three-star Class of 2019 running back Charles Mincy Jr. and scat-back/slot Keeshawn Johnson, gives the Dons a one-two-three punch most college programs wish they had on their roster.

The rise of Collins from freshman ball to varsity California football has been met with high expectations by college scouts as well. The 6-0.5, 205 pound, talent already has offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Utah, Boston College, and Oregon State. The list of offers could easily be pushed to double-digits by the spring of 2018, if not sooner, with squads like USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA, and Michigan ready to see game film of him during his sophomore campaign.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the rising stars in the 2020 recruiting class getting the inside scoop on his offseason workouts, his role with his new team, and a little preview of the Dons squad for 2017.

Interview

JoJo, how did your offseason workouts go?

“My workouts were pretty good. We had a scrimmage on Thursday, I scored four touchdowns. We started hitting the week before our scrimmage. I’m ready to play Calabasas (Aug. 24). Coach is pushing me to bust my ass in practice. My workouts have been great.”

What was the focus of your workouts?

“I have mostly focused on speed, my take off, my personality and how I handle myself on the field. Other than that, everything the coaches have told me has been pushing me to get better. Our team has put in the hard work and dedication for a championship this year.”

How have you seen your skillset and abilities grow?

“I have seen an enormous speed increase. My field vision is a lot better and I’ve been hitting holes harder.”

Did you max out in the weight room this offseason?

“Yes, sir. My bench was 350. I have no idea where my squat is now. I’m guessing it is around 400 pounds.”

Did you run a 40-yard dash this offseason?

“No, but my 100 (meter) time was a 10.9 or a 10.8.”

Did you go to any college camps this summer?

“I did. I went to a USC camp.”

Did that camp go well for you?

“Yes it did. Most of the college coaches there talked to me during or after the camp. I was with the freshmen at first and then they put me with the varsity. On my first play with the varsity level, I told the quarterback to throw me the ball on an escape route. He did, and I scored a touchdown.”

Did you take any unofficial visits this summer?

“No.”

Do you have any visits planned for fall?

“As of right now, no.”

Which schools are showing interest but have not offered?

“USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA, and Michigan.”

Which schools have extended an offer to you?

“Boston College, Georgia, Utah, Oklahoma, and Oregon State.”

Let’s focus on the upcoming season. How has fall camp gone for Dorsey?

“It is kind of crazy – the team is very tight just like a family. We are learning from each other and learning how to help each other. We have fun but we also push each other every day. This season, we are ready and focused on a championship.”

What will be some of the strengths of the team this year?

“On offense, we are smashing. Charles Mincy Jr., Keeshawn Johnson, myself, and Alex at quarterback – we are looking good. On defense, Kendall Jones, Isiah Smalls, Logan Bush, me, and Jones, our defense is big and strong. It is crazy to have a team so good like this as a city team. One would not expect it. We have come together like brothers. We are going to surprise people this year.”

You just mentioned playing defense this year, which position will you play?

“Outside linebacker-defensive end.”

Are you excited about getting time in on defense?

“Hell yeah! Defense is a hell of a thing. It is something you have to want to do. You have to want to hit. Running backs should want to play defense.”

Since you are also playing at running back, will you start on defense or will they rotate you into the game?

“The coaches are rotating me in on defense.”

How will they utilize you within the offense this season?

“This year we are running our run-pass concept. Our running backs are playing in the slot and at receiver. We will be all over the field this year. It has been fun learning new positions and showing the coaches what we can do out there.”

Have you set any goals for yourself?

(Laughs) “The goals I have set for myself is trucking a bunch of people. By the end of the season, I want to have bettered myself and my game to the best of my abilities.”

Are there any games you are excited to play this year above and beyond the others?

“The top games I’m excited about playing… No. 1 is Crenshaw (Oct. 13). We have a big rivalry with them. I have a great friend on their team. That will be fun. The St. John Bosco game (Sept. 16), they are one of the top ranked teams in the nation, that will be a fun game. The Serra (Gardena) game will be fun (Sept. 8). Those three games I am really excited to play.”

The Dons kick off the season on Thursday night against Calabasas on the road. Silly question, but are you excited to start the season?

“I am. I get to shuck a team that has been talking a lot on social media. I get to hit people that have been talking a lot going into this game. I’m not a big talker, I let my pads do the talking.”

JoJuan, thanks for your time today and good luck with the upcoming season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; JoJuan Collins at Dorsey High School.