He's hoping to add a few more. The former Niceville High School star has come home after transferring from the University of Alabama to Northwest Florida State College.

Collins said he parted with Alabama on good terms, even talking with the Tide's coaches about a possible return after his time at NWF State. Collins redshirted his freshman season after suffering a knee injury and never got comfortable at Alabama, saying, "It wasn't the right fit at the right time."

"I felt like I needed to go somewhere where I knew I was going to play and develop," he said. "I figure there's no better place than to come back here and play for (NWF State) coach (Doug) Martin."

Martin welcomed the arrival of Collins, a two-time first-team All-Area selection by the Daily News. Martin believes Collins has the potential to start at third base for the Raiders and hit in the middle of the lineup. "He's got a chance to be a difference-maker for us, so we're excited he's here," Martin said.

Collins' career at Alabama got off to an unfortunate start in the fall when he cracked his left kneecap after fouling a fastball off of it. The injury forced him to miss half the fall season and all of winter training, leading him to redshirt.

"It was one of the most painful injuries I've ever had," Collins said. "I couldn't bend my knee for two months."

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound infielder is back to full health and will have all four years of college eligibility remaining. One advantage to playing junior college baseball at NWF State is that Collins will be eligible for the Major League draft right away, while at Alabama the earliest he could have been selected was after three years at the school.

"My ultimate goal after one or two years would be to see my name on the draft board," Collins said.

As he signed with NWF State, Collins believed the Niceville college was a place where his diamond dreams could come true.

"I had that feeling you get when you do something," he said, "and you know it feels right."