1. La'el Collins played college football at LSU, where he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, recognizing the Southeastern Conference's top offensive lineman, in 2014.
29 Facts About La'el Collins
1. 2.
La'el Collins had offers from almost every major program in the country, including Auburn, Florida State, and Southern California, but committed early to Louisiana State in September 2009.
3.
La'el Collins turned down an opportunity to enter the 2014 NFL draft to return to LSU for his senior season.
4.
La'el Collins started all 13 games at left tackle, leading the team in both offensive snaps and knockdowns.
5.
La'el Collins was voted First-team All-SEC by the league's coaches and the AP.
6.
La'el Collins eventually went undrafted after his agents threatened that he would sit out the season and enter the 2016 NFL draft, if any NFL team selected him after the third round.
7.
On May 7,2015, La'el Collins signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.
8.
La'el Collins eventually passed Leary on the depth chart and was promoted as the starter at left guard during the week 6 bye.
9.
La'el Collins was declared inactive with a high left ankle sprain for the last game against the Washington Redskins.
10.
La'el Collins was limited to three starts in three games.
11.
In 2017, following the retirement of Doug Free, La'el Collins moved over to right tackle and was named the starter to begin the season.
12.
On July 25,2017, La'el Collins signed a two-year, $15.4 million contract extension through the 2019 season.
13.
La'el Collins started all 16 games at right tackle, returning to the position he played during his college years.
14.
La'el Collins contributed to Dak Prescott throwing for over 4,000 yards and to Ezekiel Elliott winning his second rushing crown with 1,434 yards.
15.
On September 3,2019, La'el Collins signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension with the Cowboys, keeping him on contract through the 2024 season.
16.
La'el Collins missed the Week 6 game against the New York Jets with a knee injury.
17.
La'el Collins was part of an offensive line that only yielded 23 sacks.
18.
On September 7,2020, La'el Collins was placed on injured reserve.
19.
La'el Collins missed all of the season and undrafted rookie Terence Steele went on to start 14 games at right tackle in his place.
20.
On September 10,2021, La'el Collins started the season opener at right tackle, before being suspended five games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, because of multiple missed drug tests and trying to bribe the test collector.
21.
The original penalty was increased from 2 to 5 games after La'el Collins decided to fight the suspension in court.
22.
La'el Collins came back to action in Week 7, but didn't immediately get his right tackle job, as the coaching staff decided to start Steele instead.
23.
La'el Collins regained his starting right tackle position in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, which coincided with left tackle Tyron Smith injuring his ankle and missing 3 contests.
24.
La'el Collins returned as the starter the following week and remained there the rest of the season.
25.
La'el Collins started in 10 of the 12 games he played.
26.
On March 20,2022, La'el Collins signed a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, reuniting with offensive line coach Frank Pollack, who had this same position with the Cowboys.
27.
La'el Collins was placed on the non-football injury list with a back injury at the start of training camp.
28.
On January 2,2024, La'el Collins was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
29.
La'el Collins's contract expired when the teams season ended January 14,2024.