Texas DT Alfred Collins selected No. 43 overall by the San Francisco 49ers

The decision to come back for a fifth season on the Forty Acres paid off for the Bastrop native.

After having four players selected in the first 46 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns surpassed that number in the 2025 NFL Draft, a program record, when defensive tackle Alfred Collins was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round with the No. 43 overall pick on Friday.

It’s the first time since Texas Ex Kyle Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers that the organization has selected a Longhorn in the draft.

The second-round selection of Collins also affirms the decision by the Bastrop native to return for a fifth season on the Forty Acres, echoing the choice by T’Vondre Sweat in early 2023 that helped him become the No. 38 pick overall by the Tennessee Titans last year.

So expect the payoff for Collins to show up on some recruiting literature for the Horns in the near future.

“When you think about our run of defensive tackles, Alfred is a guy who had the opportunity to play behind and learn from some real pros. That helped him a lot, and he embraced it by being patient and seizing the moment when his opportunity came,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“Alfred is a big, physical player. He’s a guy that has really grown up in our program. He’s an excellent first and second down player who also has the ability to rush the passer on third down. His senior year was a great one, and he made plays in the biggest moments, but he’s just tapping into how good he can be. I really think his best football is ahead of him and he’ll do great things for the San Francisco 49ers.”

Collins arrived on the Forty Acres as the No. 63 prospect and No. 2 strong-side defensive end in the 2020 recruiting class, representing a huge coup for Texas and its former staff on the recruiting trail.

Collins immediately contributed as a Longhorn, playing in 10 games as a freshman and racking up 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four deflections, and an interception.

As Collins aged, he continued to contribute to the Texas defensive line, but struggled to turn his massive frame and raw talent into tangible technique improvements and disruptions on the field. Coupled with the challenge of competing behind Sweat and Byron Murphy, as well as Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo, Collins wasn’t satisfied with his performance or draft stock, so he opted to return for a final campaign in burnt orange.

That decision proved to be worthwhile.

This past season, Collins showed drastic improvement while anchoring the Texas defensive line — he nearly doubled his career bests in solo tackles, assisted tackles, and pass deflections while setting career highs in sacks, forced fumbles, and blocks. Collins was disruptive, destructive, and active throughout the entire season.

Behind this performance, Collins made good on his promise to improve his draft stock. A stellar showing at the Senior Bowl has further propelled Collins up draft boards.

As a prospect, Collins’ size and athleticism jump off the page. At 6’6, 332 pounds, Collins has an alluring stature that fits the criteria that NFL teams often set for defensive lineman. Yet it’s the way Collins has grown into his frame while developing the skills to match that particularly excites NFL teams.

Collins has demonstrated an innate ability to shed interior blocks thanks to his football IQ and strength at the point of attack, specifically in the run game. Collins has shown that he can be effective in multi gap assignments in college at a level that suggests a smooth transition to the NFL.

Collins has also demonstrated a knack for getting in passing lanes, with seven batted balls last season alone.

All in all, Collins is one of the best interior rush stoppers in the class, an assessment with which the 49ers clearly agreed.