Collins looking to make an impact

By rbrown
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Updated: August 8, 2025

Raleigh Collins will be among the many new faces on the University of New Hampshire defense this season. He may be the most intriguing newcomer as well.

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Collins, a 6-fo0t-3, 205-pound safety, transferred to UNH earlier this year after spending three seasons at West Virginia. He played as a true freshman, but was injured in West Virginia’s fourth game and opted to redshirt. Collins also played as a redshirt freshman, but he didn’t get any playing time last season.

Collins entered the transfer portal shortly after West Virgina fired former head coach Neal Brown in December.

“I was looking at the University of Albany,” Collins said Wednesday during UNH’s media day. “They reached out late in the process, and between here and Albany I just felt like this was home. It really feels like a brotherhood here. We kind of rely on that motto (of) one team, one heartbeat. It feels like everybody’s buying in right now.

“As a defensive back I’m very versatile. I was recruited to play linebacker at West Virginia, so I’m going to bring that physicality, but also through the years I played safety, so you’re going to get the cover guy and also a lot of zone drops. Kind of getting a very versatile player.”

Collins also played on special teams at West Virginia. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

UNH is looking to replace 10 starters from its 2024 defense.

“Pretty dynamic, explosive player,” UNH defensive coordinator Scott James said. “Pound for pound or metrically he may be one of the top kids, but we have to see. He’s still growing into it.”

Collins grew up in Bear, Del. and attended high school at Neumann Goretti, a private school in Philadelphia. In addition to West Virginia, he received offers from Penn, Dartmouth, Central Michigan, Army, Maryland, Penn State, UMass, Temple, Howard, Boston College, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Connecticut, Kansas, Pittsburgh and Oregon.

Collins played in 12 games during his time at West Virgina and recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

“I really feel like I’m caught up in the playbook,” he said. “I’m not behind and I’m ready to get reps.”

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