2017 Football Roster
Cayson Collins
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Charlotte, N.C.
- High School:
- Berry Academy
2017 - Senior Season
Appeared in 11 games and made seven starts at linebacker • Had 83 tackles on the year, good for second on the team • Had three tackles in the win over WCU • Had six tackles and a 66-yard fumble return in the win at Pitt • The fumble return set up a field goal and was the longest by an ACC player in 2017 • Finished with eight tackles and forced a fumble against Miami • Had five tackles (four solo) at Virginia Tech • Topped double figures in tackles for the third straight week with 12 tackles (six solo) against Virginia • Also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and had a TFL against the Cavaliers • Went for a new career high for the second straight week, finishing with 15 stops (10 solo) against Notre Dame • Established a new career high with 12 tackles (all solo) and a sack at Georgia Tech • Finished with a season-high seven tackles and combined on a sack in the Duke game • Tied for the team lead with six tackles (five solo) in the win at ODU • Finished with three tackles and combined on a sack against Louisville • Had six tackles (three solo) in the season opener against Cal.
2016 - Junior Season
Played in all 13 games and made six starts • Had 60 tackles, including 4.0 for loss, and two forced fumbles on the season • Matched a career high with 10 tackles in the Sun Bowl • Posted four tackles, including three solo stops, vs. NC State • Made eight tackles vs. The Citadel • Had three tackles at Duke • Recorded eight stops in a 48-20 win over Georgia Tech • Made three tackles in the win at Virginia • Had four solo stops, one for loss, and forced a fumble in the win at No. 12 Florida State • Made one tackle in the comeback win over Pitt • Named ACC Linebacker of the Week for his performance in Carolina's 56-28 win over JMU • Posted 10 tackles, including two for loss, in the JMU victory • Assisted on two tackles, including one for loss, in the win at Illinois • Started and assisted on three tackles in the season opener vs. Georgia.
2015 - Sophomore Season
Had five tackles (four solo) and a tackle for loss in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson • Finished with two tackles and a fumble recovery in the win over Miami • Had six stops each in wins over Duke and Wake Forest • Established a new career high with 10 tackles (nine solo) and had a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the win at Georgia Tech • Had two stops in the Delaware win • Started at Sam linebacker and finished with three tackles (two solo) in the win over NC A&T • Had three tackles in the season opener against South Carolina.
2014 - True Freshman Season
Finished the regular season with 36 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown • After recording just six tackles in the first seven games of the year, exploded for 30 stops in the final six games • Made one tackle in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Rutgers • Had three stops in the regular season finale against NC State • Registered four tackles (three solo) and forced a fumble in the win at Duke • Making his first career start, established a career high with nine tackles in the win over Pitt • Had five tackles and a 39-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at Miami • Finished with eight tackles in the win at Virginia • Had two solo stops and forced a fumble in his first collegiate game against Liberty.
Berry Academy
Selected to North Carolina's Shrine Bowl team • Considered one of the top 20 players in North Carolina by all the major recruiting analysts • Named the SoMeck 8 4A Player of the Year • Listed as the No. 28 outside linebacker in the nation and No. 17 player in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Ranked the No. 35 outside linebacker in the country by Scout.com • Listed as the No. 39 outside linebacker in the country and No. 17 player in the state by 247sports.com • ESPN.com tabbed him the No. 54 OLB and No. 27 player in North Carolina • Registered 139 tackles as a senior, including a game in which he had 33 stops • Also had 16 tackles for loss and recovered five fumbles • Tallied 110 tackles, including 74 solo stops, an interception, three forced fumbles, and returned a recovered fumble for a TD as a junior.
Personal
Nickname is “Queso” and “Cheese” • Best class he's taken at UNC is COMM 120 • If he could choose an NFL team to play for, it would be the Panthers • Dream job is to play in the NFL • People say he looks like Dwight Howard and Terrell Owens • Favorite TV show is “The Office” • Favorite food is pancakes • Wears number 23 is because he combined his high school number (3) and his best friend's number (2) • Pregame ritual is to eat Skittles in separate colors, first green and finish with purple • If he could guest star on a reality TV show, it would be “Chopped” • Person who had the biggest impact on his life is Alicia Collins, his mother • Son of Fred Carter and Alicia Collins • Birthday is Nov. 10 • Studio art major.
