Maliek Collins Declares for 2016 NFL Draft: Latest Comments and Reaction

Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive tackle Maliek Collins announced following the Foster Farms Bowl that he'll forgo his final season in Lincoln to enter the 2016 NFL draft. 

Nebraska posted video of Collins thanking fans on Twitter:

Collins racked up 29 total tackles with 2.5 sacks this season, per CFBStats.com. The junior is listed at 6'2", 300 pounds and was a Cornhuskers team captain.

Steven M. Sipple of the Journal Star applauded Collins' unique athleticism despite sporting such a massive frame:

Collins was a second-team all-Big Ten selection as a sophomore last year and continued his strong form as a bright spot for an otherwise lackluster 2015 Nebraska football campaign that resulted in a 6-7 record.

After his exceptional sophomore season, offenses paid greater attention to Collins and put double-teams on him more frequently. He can collapse the pocket from the inside with his quickness and is likely to thrive as a dynamic run-stopper at the NFL level as well.

Chris Emma of CBSChicago.com has a high grade on Collins and hints he likely made the proper decision by leaping to the pros:

The crop of defensive linemen in the 2016 draft figures to be quite deep with the likes of Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson, Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche and Oregon standout DeForest Buckner to name only a few. It stands to reason Collins could fall to Day 2 and be an absolute steal.

Collins was an all-conference academic selection in 2014. That should serve the 20-year-old well through the interviewing process and suggests teams won't have to worry about him off the field.