Former Oklahoma State Running Back Elijah Collins Signs with Bengals as Undrafted Free Agent

It was obviously an impressive running back room at Oklahoma State this past season when a backup is headed to the NFL.

Former OSU running back Elijah Collins, who was the power relief behind Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent Saturday. Collins became the fourth former OSU player to sign with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft concluded Saturday evening without any Cowboys being selected. Defensive linemen Anthony Goodlow and Nathan Latu and receiver Leon Johnson III will also get a shot at the next level via the free agency route. Of the four, Latu is the only one that spent more than one season in Stillwater.

Collins transferred to OSU after five years at Michigan State, where he started in every game as a freshman in 2019 before his touches became more limited. As a frosh, Collins led the Spartans with 988 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He was the first Spartan since 2005 to have three 100-yard rushing performances in their freshman season. In his final season at Michigan State in 2022, Collins was named a team captain before rushing for 318 yards on 70 carries and a team-high six rushing touchdowns.

Once at OSU, Collins helped relieve Gordon along with Jaden Nixon, although Gordon had 285 carries, which was the eighth-most in a season in OSU history. With a limited 30 carries, Collins rushed for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns this past season. He didn’t get a carry at all in five games while dealing with an injury in the latter half of the season.

Collins initially came out of University of Detroit Jesuit as the top running back prospect in Michigan by 247Sports and Rivals. 247Sports also listed him as the 25th best running back recruit in the country.

In Cincinnati, Collins will join a running back room that is looking to replace Joe Mixon, who was released last month. Collins is the only rookie running back the Bengals have added so far.