Back in the nineties, Cecil Collins played as running back for the LSU football team. He was the top number one pick for running backs in Louisiana.
However, his time at LSU was cut short due to criminal charges he was facing. After, he went to play football for Mcneese University for a short period of time. During his time there, he was kicked off the team after taking a drug test and failing, which resulted in him violating his probation.
Although he only played four college football games throughout his college career, he was drafted for the Miami Dolphins.
“That was a dream come true. When I got drafted to the Dolphins it was like I knew I belonged there. I worked all my life for this, this was my reward but that was on an athletic skill level I was ready but mentally I wasn’t ready for the challenges of the NFL,” Collins said.
Collins was then facing fifteen years in prison for felony burglary. During that time, his cousin had passed and that was when he said he could feel himself wanting to turn his life around.
“In 2011 my cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident. I remember getting that call from my aunt and when she told me my cousin had passed away it knocked me off my feet and I fainted for a little minute. When I woke up and I was just in a bright light and it was the presence of God,” Collins said.
One month before he was sent to prison, he met his wife through a friend of a friend and from there, they fell in love through the prison visits. His wife spent many early mornings headed to the prison to make sure she could visit Collins and she never missed a visit.
Now, Cecil Collins tries to ensure that his children don’t follow in his footsteps.
“So I was going through that at the time and then he sent her to me. He knew I needed her because I probably wouldn’t have made it without her. I know the consequences of this, I’m living proof, I’ve done it. That’s why I try to stress that and what I tell my kids too. I’m a blueprint and I literally am because I know what it takes to be successful in life by honoring God I know what he’s going to do,” Collins said.
