Zyon McCollum

Cornerback / Sam Houston State

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Zyon McCollum:  6’4, 198 pounds and I haven’t run the forty since high school.    

Alex Khvatov:  How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Zyon McCollum:  The situation is pretty crazy.  I have been recovering from an injury.  I work out at Michael Johnson Performance.  I have been doing physical therapy there.  They do offseason training, working on speed and lifting weights.  Adam is a great trainer.  I have been learning with them and building relationships.  My twin brother and I go to the empty field and do position drills.  He can be receiver and vice versa.  We throw each other passes.  My twin brother plays safety at Sam Houston State.          

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Zyon McCollum:  Actually, my dad played in the NBA for the Bulls.  He was drafted by the Hawks, but traded to the Bulls.  My dad’s name is Corey Carr.  He came to the Bulls one year after Michael Jordan.  He was a shooting guard.  He went to Texas Tech and broke the record for three-pointers in a season.  He went overseas and played in the Euro league.  He played in Israel.  He had a long career.  He retired and is still coaching up there.  Basketball was my first love.  During my freshman year of high school, I wasn’t as tall.  I had a growth spurt at the end of high school.  After my freshman year, I gave up on basketball.  My brother and I also ran relays and did the jumps in track.  I did the long jump, and my twin brother did the triple jump.  We went to regionals. 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Zyon McCollum:  I played CB.  I wanted to be the safety, and my twin brother wanted to be the corner.  They put me at corner, and he went to safety.  They got us mixed up because we are identical twins.  We never went back.  It was always competitive between each other. 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Zyon McCollum:  After the first mega camp, Sam Houston State offered.  Then Utah was the second offer.  My brother and I committed to Utah.  Some things happened, and we de-committed.  We decided to stay closer to home.  Our mom could see us play.  Tulane and some FCS schools offered after I de-committed from Utah.  My twin brother and I both got the offer. 

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up Sam Houston State? 

Zyon McCollum:  Throughout high school, we had our regional track meets at Sam Houston State school.  We knew the school and the field.  We saw the team culture and the winning mentality.  It felt like home.  We all care about each other here.  It is all about the team.  My brother and I wanted to be a part of it.    

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your career.    

Zyon McCollum:  I started as a freshman.  Sam Houston State is an offensive powerhouse.  We were pretty bad on defense.  A lot of guys started as freshmen on the defense.  We went pretty deep in the FCS playoffs.  We had QB Jeremiah Briscoe and the receivers.  It was a cool experience.  I had three INT’s and two of them came in the playoffs.  Sophomore year, the offense was good.  But the defense started to creep up and balance the team out.  I had three INT’s as well that season and a couple of forced fumbles.  Last season, it was cut short a bit.  I caught three picks and forced a couple of fumbles.  We became one of the best defenses in the nation.  It was cool to see that we are not just an offensive school anymore.  I tore my right wrist.  The recovery has been great.  I should be 100% by training camp.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your individual expectations for your senior year? 

Zyon McCollum:  Be better than I was last year.  I want to break the career interception record at the school.  The career school record is 15 INT’s.  I have been getting three picks every season.  I have to keep doing my job, and plays will come.    

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from Sam Houston State this upcoming season? 

Zyon McCollum:  We are going for the National Championship.  We need to come together as a team and play as one.  Swarm and compete.  We need to be the best version of ourselves.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Zyon McCollum:  I have a rare combination of size, speed, and quickness.  I wasn’t always this tall.  But I have always had speed and quickness.  It never went away.  I can compete against all types of receivers.    

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Zyon McCollum:  Improve on everything.  I need to improve in off coverage and hip mobility.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Zyon McCollum:  The games against Stephen F. Austin.  It is a big rivalry.  We are undefeated against them three years in a row.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Zyon McCollum:  It is not all about you.  Coming in as a freshman, I was concerned too much with making plays.  I was playing outside of myself and trying to do too much.  I was making mistakes.  Coach McGraw is my position coach.  He told me to do what the defense asks you.  The plays will come. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Zyon McCollum:  My brother and I are lifelong Eagles fans.  My family are die-hard Cowboys fans.  I was really young and was watching football.  I saw the Eagles and I realized that this would be my team. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Zyon McCollum:  CB Jalen Ramsey and S Jamal Adams.  They are playmakers.  I admire the versatility that they have.     

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Zyon McCollum:  My twin brother, safety Tristin McCollum.  CB Jaylen Thomas, DL Joe Wallace and DL Trace Mascorro.  OL Colby Thomas can play all five positions.  He is our center.  QB Eric Schmid should have a breakout season.      

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Zyon McCollum:  WR Nathan Stewart who was on my own team.  We went heads up on every rep during practice.  He was the fastest, quickest and toughest receiver that I have ever played against.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a CB?

Zyon McCollum:  Probably swag in a way.  You need to forget things easily.  You have to have that confidence.  Corners are one on one on an island.  You might get exposed on one play, but you have to move on to the next play.    

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Zyon McCollum:  Just the experiences that you can create when being with the team.  You learn about life.  The entire team coming together as one.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Zyon McCollum:  All types of sports.  I like being around nature.  I like to branch out and do new things.  I like to paint and write.     

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Zyon McCollum:  I wanted to get into a medical field when I came into college.  I was a biomedical science major.  Then I realized that it is not something I wanted to do.  Now I am a kinesiology major and minor in biology.  My mom is a teacher, and my dad is a coach.  I want to coach and be a teacher in the future.  I want to make an impact on the youth.    

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Zyon McCollum:  I am a pretty big optimist.  I try to see the good in everything.  I help people around me.  Positive attitude is the key.

Alex Khvatov:  What is it like having a twin brother?

Zyon McCollum:  It is the greatest thing.  I have always had someone by my side.  You never really get bored.  You have someone that you can walk through life with.  It is a blessing.    

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Zyon McCollum:  Happy, strong-willed, passionate, selfless, and competitor.