Big Panther Prize Catch For Colleges But First, Mead, Gsl Pals Focus On Big Nine, Playoffs
Mike McLaughlin made a discovery that has college football coaches throughout the West drooling.
Two years ago, McLaughlin saw a tall, skinny kid in a physical education class at Mead High School and wondered why he wasn’t out for football.
The reason is the 6-foot-6, 200-pounder was trying to get his academics in order before wrestling season.
Two years later, 6-7, 260-pound Joe Collier has everything in order, including his grades. And when Mead’s playoff run ends, the chase for the two-way lineman’s services will heat up.
“I just want to play, I don’t care where I go,” Collier said of college.
For now, he just wants to keep playing at Albi Stadium.
The ninth-ranked Panthers, Greater Spokane League champions and in the playoffs for the eighth straight year, play Pasco tonight in the newly-expanded playoffs. A win puts the Panthers back at Albi on Saturday for the second round.
In other first-round games tonight at 6, Richland plays GSL runner-up Shadle Park at Central Valley, CV goes to Big Nine champion and top-ranked Kamiakin and Gonzaga Prep plays at No.7-ranked Walla Walla, the Big Nine runner-up.
“It’s kind of weird playing back-to-back like this,” Collier said, alluding to the early-week playoff game five days after Mead’s final regular-season game. “It’s a little stressful. You don’t have time to recuperate from the last game and prepare for the next game. (But) it’s the same for everyone. I have confidence in our team.”
Confidence is new for Collier. As a sophomore, he was barely a 2.0-student. Now he has his SAT score in the bag a 1,200 when 800 is the minimum.
“It was laziness,” Collier said. “The SAT kind of motivated me to go to college.”
The colleges have noticed, although recruiters keep asking McLaughlin if Collier has noticed them.
“The colleges talk to me. I get calls,” he said. “When they call, I answer questions, I don’t really talk. I don’t put a lot of thought into it. I’m just playing the season.”
McLaughlin knows why Collier is getting bombarded.
“We only had him a half-year as a sophomore. His improvement has been steady,” the coach said. “He has size 18 feet, he runs well, he’s very strong for a tall, thin kid. His body fat is next to nothing.”
What also helps is Collier’s wrestling experience. Though only 220 pounds as a junior, Collier made the state tournament in the 275-pound division.
“I think it helps,” he said of wrestling. “If you’re in the weight room you’re going to be stronger, but you need to be quick and agile.”
Whatever college wins the Collier sweepstakes, the prize is going to just get better and better as he learns more and more - and grows.
Collier was slated to play defense as a junior, but another player didn’t turn out and he played all offense. This year he is playing both ways.
“I think I like the offensive side a little better because I have to think on defense. On offense, you have a guy and you block him,” Collier said. “I like playing defense. It’s fun, you get a lot more credit, a lot more glory.”
McLaughlin said Collier is as good as any lineman he’s seen come through the league, and probably faster.
“Most of it is genetics. He is blessed with an athletic body,” McLaughlin said. “Now it’s a question of his desire athletically. This year he has realized his gift and I think he’s played about as well as he can, but he’s not close to how well he will get.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TODAY’S GAMES GSL/Big Nine playoffs Richland (7-2) vs. Shadle Park (6-3) at CV, 6 p.m. Central Valley (6-3) at Kamiakin(9-0), 6 p.m. Gonzaga Prep (5-4) at Walla Walla (7-1), 6 p.m. Pasco (5-3) vs. Mead (8-0) at Albi Stadium, 6 p.m.