This gained him his team's season-high, tying three assists in win over Northern Michigan November 8, 2003, which helped mark his first career points.

He had the team-best (+4) in series vs. Lake Superior State, including career-high +3 on January 16, 2004, as well as two assists in win over Bowling Green on November 29, 2003.

[citation needed] 2004–05: (Sophomore season) Collins had nine goals and 17 assists for career-best, as well as 26 points in 40 games leading the Buckeye defensemen, and was ranked at sixth overall on the team.

[citation needed] 2005–06: (Junior season) Collins served as alternate captain and played in all 39 games as he led defensemen and tied for third on the squad, amassing 18 points.

Collins earned the title of Buckeye Sports Bulletin Icer of the Month on December, and had 37 recorded blocked shots to rank second on the squad, including five at Michigan, February 3 and vs. Nebraska-Omaha, January 14.

Collins scored on the power play at Alaska, January 20, vs. Miami, December 30 and at Bowling Green, October 20.

Collins managed to play in the 100th career game vs. Miami on December 30 in the Ohio Hockey Classic.

He scored two points, as a goal and an assist, vs. Holy Cross on December 29, and set up John Dingle's gamewinner vs. Miami on January 10.

[citation needed] 2006–07: Collins completed his college career as a senior at Ohio State (CCHA).

[citation needed] Collins played 12 games for Hershey (AHL) and 31 for South Carolina (ECHL).

He led club defensemen with nine points (1+8) in 20 playoff games, as the team advanced to the Kelly Cup semifinals.

Collins earned the title of Ohio State Career Two-time Honorable Mention All-CCHA (2005, 2006), as well as a finalist for CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman accolades in 2005, a 2006 Scarlet and Gray Award winner, and was voted team's 2004 George Burke Most Valuable Freshman.

Wearing #62, the undrafted defenseman logged 18 shifts and spent 13 minutes, 42 seconds, on the ice as the Capitals defeated Toronto 2–1.

[citation needed] Collins started off the year at the Capitals training camp and was one of the last defensemen sent to Hershey.