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The Backstory
It's a bird...It's a plane...No, it's a defensive player wearing a jersey number in the 80s. Sure, offensive players have dominated our "Sun Devil Legends" countdown since we hit the 89 marker (and rightfully so). But today, Shane Collins takes us back to a simpler time when number guidelines weren't so stringent.
Don't get us wrong, the Sun Devils have plenty of worthy legends candidates who caught passes during their time in Tempe. However, no Sun Devil receiver to wear 83 has ever been a 1st Team conference performer.
Players like Clyde McCoy and Lenzie Jackson definitely earned points for their longevity as each were three-year starters. But ultimately, our highest honor goes to the Sun Devil who took home the highest honors and that was Shane Collins.
Shane Collins
Like a few of our "Sun Devil Legends," Shane Collins made an impact at Arizona State in his very first season. As a freshman, Collins had one of the best years of his career as his four sacks and six tackles for loss led the team in 1988.
The following season, the Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 performer had a tall task ahead of him; avoiding a sophomore slump. Fortunately for Head Coach Larry Marmie, Collins repeated as an Honorable Mention performer and helped the squad to a 6-4-1 record.
In 1990, Collins took a step back, but he used that as motivation and came back stronger than ever in his senior season.
That year, the defensive tackle soared to new heights as he became a 1st Team All-Pac-10 performer and anchored a Sun Devil defensive line that helped the team close out the season with a 37-14 victory over the Arizona Wildcats.
Collins was never an All-American, but he was the model of consistency and that's why he gets our nod as the greatest Sun Devil to wear No. 83.
In the Pros
The Washington Redskins scooped up Collins in Round 2 of the 1992 NFL Draft. The Roundup, Montana native lasted just three seasons in the league, but did manage to get his name on the stat sheet with a sack in his rookie year.
Honorable Mentions
Fair Hooker: A standout wide receiver in the late 1960s, Hooker led the team in receiving with 42 catches, 665 yards, and six touchdowns in 1968.
Clyde McCoy: This Sun Devil tight end was a three-year starter in the early 1990s and was named an Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 performer in 1994.
Lenzie Jackson: Another three-year starter, Jackson was named an Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 tight end in both 1997 and 1998.
Who Wears It Now?
Kody Kohl: This redshirt freshman picked a tough number to live up to, but here's hoping he makes his hometown of Gilbert proud as a contributor at tight end.
Other Notable 83s
Ted Hendricks: Interestingly enough, one of the greatest NFL linebackers wore No. 83. Hendricks played 15 seasons and won four Super Bowls during his career.
Andre Reed: A Buffalo Bills great, Reed was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time AFC Champion at wide receiver.