Jabin Collins continues to defy odds, signing NLI for college football

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The phrase, “career-ending injury” does not apply to Monroe Catholic Rams football player, Jabin Collins.

In 2019, fourteen year-old, Collins, was in a horrific car accident. Just over one month later, Collins had his left foot and a portion of his lower leg amputated.

A previous reporter, Aaron Walling, told the story of Jabin Collins overcoming the life-changing adversity he faced and his return to football. His story can be read here: Overcoming Adversity.

Now, Jabin is preparing for graduation, and his football career is not yet over. Collins signed his letter of intent to play college football.

“I really never could have ever imagined it,” said Collins. “It’s the biggest dream come true. It’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened in my life, and I’m so happy it’s finally official.”

Collins will be heading to St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, a rural suburb of Minneapolis. The Crown Polars compete at the NCAA Division III level in the Upper Midwest Athletic Contest.

Over the years, Jabin has continued to pursue his athletic dreams. His parents still remember Jabin’s main concern in the hospital following the accident. “It was pretty uncertain for a while,” stated his mother, Amy. “He was extremely determined to get back and play. To be able to go play in college is... I don’t know.”

“To be thinking about three years ago, and I was in the emergency room holding his hand, asking me that question, ‘Dad am I ever going to get to play football?’ That’s all he cared about. He didn’t care about anything else really,” Jabin’s father, Josh added.

Even though Monroe Catholic didn’t compete in the 2022 football season, due to lack of players, Jabin elected to not play that season. He only wanted to play for head coach, Kyle Allison.

“Going down there, he’s going to carry on and help a lot of his teammates maybe fight through a little bit of struggling their having,” stated coach Kyle Allison.

The fact that Collins didn’t play last season, didn’t matter to Crown College. His offer still stands, and will join the team in the fall. While in college, Collins intends on studying youth ministries.

The things Jabin experienced since August 2019, is something few people can comprehend, but his positive mindset allowed him to get to this point.

“I feel like that’s one of the most important things. Taking something that happens in your life whether it be bad or it be good and flipping it and using it for good even if it is bad,” Jabin ended.

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