As a two-way starter at tight end and defensive end, Mitchel Collier rarely came off the football field the past two seasons.
Collier’s play caught the attention of some major college football programs and landed him a pair of Division I scholarship offers. Tuesday afternoon, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior-to-be committed to continue his career at Central Michigan.
Collier and his parents visited the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, school on Saturday and received an offer. He also had received an offer from Bowling Green this spring.
“(Central Michigan) felt like home,” Collier said. “It reminded me a lot of (North) coach (Tim Bless). They have a lot of good stuff going up there, new coaches, and they’re building a brand new facility. It just felt like a good fit.”
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The Chippewas will be led by first-year coach Jim McElwain. McElwain was the head coach at Florida from 2015-17, leading the Gators to a pair of SEC East titles, and was an assistant at Michigan last season.
Collier plans to major in business.
“He has a great rapport with their staff, but most importantly, academically, the school has what he’s looking for,” Bless said. “The facilities are really good. It’s not too far away from home, and it’s high-caliber football in the MAC.”
As the Bull Dogs’ third-leading returning receiver, Collier might see a few more footballs thrown his way this fall. That might especially be the case since the leading returning receiver is running back Blake Huffman, and their second-leading returning receiver, Hunter Huser, is moving to quarterback.
Collier, who has started at tight end since his freshman year and at defensive end since his sophomore year, could play some H-back or slot receiver this season.
“He’s been a leader in our program,” Bless said. “He’ll be a four-year starter in our program, and when he talks, kids listen. His impact on the field is huge for our team.”
North opens its season Aug. 23 against Avon at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“I think we have a lot of returning starters that should be good,” Collier said. “It should be fun to open up in Lucas Oil. We’d like to get the crosstown rivalry (against Columbus East). It should be a good year.”
