University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Kari Hodges/UGAAA
Catching Up With Corey Collins
April 17, 2024 | Baseball
By Carter Brown, UGA Sports Communications Student Assistant
Georgia baseball senior Corey Collins has been with the program for all four years of his collegiate career. A 6-3, 236-pound left-handed hitter, he has seen action at catcher, the outfield and at first base, playing in 171 games including 160 starts. He is enjoying his finest year at the plate, ranking second on the team in batting average at .388 and on base percentage at .582. His play has helped Georgia bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season to now a spot among the nation's top 25 teams with a 27-9 mark.
Q: You had three solid years to start your career here, and now you're really having a big senior year so what did you work on in the offseason to get to this point?
A: "One of the big things was getting my body where it needed to be. {Sports Performance} Coach (Derek) Groomer, {Asst. Head/Hitting} Coach (Will) Coggin, they really helped me get into a good hitting position. I just focused on my strength obviously in the weight room, but then just the mental side of it. They have really helped me with my approach to the games. I carry it on day to day. So, I'd say those were two big things."
Q: Staying at one school for all four years is not typical in today's world of college sports so what made you want to stay at Georgia?
A: "I have always loved it here. The guys that I grew up with through my college career I just wanted to stay with, and then by the time I got to my senior year when all of the changes had been made, I had already fallen in love with this place. It's close enough to home but far enough away so I just think there's no better place."
Q: What kind of difference do you see in the program with Head Coach Wes Johnson at the helm, and how has he helped you become a better player?
A: "He has a lot of professional experience and a lot of winning under his belt. So obviously he knows what he's doing, and I think that Josh Brooks would hire the best guy. We all had faith in that. He's just brought out a different side of the game for a lot of these guys."
Q: The team has nearly matched its win total from last season already, how motivated were you to come back for your senior year and have a successful season at Georgia?
A: "That's one of the things that you always want -- to win, you always want to compete. I think these guys have just focused on putting ourselves in the best spot to win, and we always say the scoreboard will take care of itself, and it really does take care of itself up to this point. Some things here and there that I obviously want to keep getting better throughout the season, but it's a big step up."
Q: You guys are sitting just around .500 in one of the best conferences in college baseball so how do you want to see the team finish out the regular season?
A: "Just fighting through the hard part, we're in the midst of it all now and we're over halfway done. This is when it gets hard on bodies and minds and just really grinding it out. We try to understand that each day is a new day, and each game is a new game, so we're just doing the best we can to put ourselves out there in the best spot possible."
Q: You've already set a season-high for home runs. Did that feat start in the weight room this offseason, or what led to your success with the long ball?
A: "Like I said, it was just the weight room and just the approach to it. I didn't really know until one of our guys had told me about it. I'm happy about it, but I'm never really satisfied with it."
Q: As you move into the second part of the season, what is something that you want to improve on to not only help this team but to enhance yourself as a prospect?
A: "Just really staying at a consistent level. Showing up to the field and understanding every day that my ability is good enough and to keep getting better. There's always room to grow, and I just treat it as I'm still just trying to grow through the season. No matter how far into it we are."
Q: Those first three seasons were very solid for you statistically speaking but does it feel better to have as good of a season as you are now in your senior year?
A: "Yeah because I just wanted to try to relax and enjoy the game again. Results are everything but it really has showed that if I just go out there relaxed, I can play a little bit better and I can help the team win."
Q: What kind of role do you try to play for this team as one of the few seniors?
A: I just always thought, whatever I can do to help. I just try to stay ready when my name is called and bring that experience to help guys. I try to help teach them and coach them and just anywhere they can, I try to be the guy that they can lean on. So, I've just kind of taken this opportunity and run with it."
Q: What are your future plans including for your baseball career?
A: "It's just one of those things I've taken as it comes. Because I don't want to stress myself out about what happens. So, it's just kind of playing one game at a time. It's like I said, when we get there, I'll sit down with my close circle and figure out what's going to go on."
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA)), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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Georgia baseball senior Corey Collins has been with the program for all four years of his collegiate career. A 6-3, 236-pound left-handed hitter, he has seen action at catcher, the outfield and at first base, playing in 171 games including 160 starts. He is enjoying his finest year at the plate, ranking second on the team in batting average at .388 and on base percentage at .582. His play has helped Georgia bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season to now a spot among the nation's top 25 teams with a 27-9 mark.
Q: You had three solid years to start your career here, and now you're really having a big senior year so what did you work on in the offseason to get to this point?
A: "One of the big things was getting my body where it needed to be. {Sports Performance} Coach (Derek) Groomer, {Asst. Head/Hitting} Coach (Will) Coggin, they really helped me get into a good hitting position. I just focused on my strength obviously in the weight room, but then just the mental side of it. They have really helped me with my approach to the games. I carry it on day to day. So, I'd say those were two big things."
Q: Staying at one school for all four years is not typical in today's world of college sports so what made you want to stay at Georgia?
A: "I have always loved it here. The guys that I grew up with through my college career I just wanted to stay with, and then by the time I got to my senior year when all of the changes had been made, I had already fallen in love with this place. It's close enough to home but far enough away so I just think there's no better place."
Q: What kind of difference do you see in the program with Head Coach Wes Johnson at the helm, and how has he helped you become a better player?
A: "He has a lot of professional experience and a lot of winning under his belt. So obviously he knows what he's doing, and I think that Josh Brooks would hire the best guy. We all had faith in that. He's just brought out a different side of the game for a lot of these guys."
Q: The team has nearly matched its win total from last season already, how motivated were you to come back for your senior year and have a successful season at Georgia?
A: "That's one of the things that you always want -- to win, you always want to compete. I think these guys have just focused on putting ourselves in the best spot to win, and we always say the scoreboard will take care of itself, and it really does take care of itself up to this point. Some things here and there that I obviously want to keep getting better throughout the season, but it's a big step up."
Q: You guys are sitting just around .500 in one of the best conferences in college baseball so how do you want to see the team finish out the regular season?
A: "Just fighting through the hard part, we're in the midst of it all now and we're over halfway done. This is when it gets hard on bodies and minds and just really grinding it out. We try to understand that each day is a new day, and each game is a new game, so we're just doing the best we can to put ourselves out there in the best spot possible."
Q: You've already set a season-high for home runs. Did that feat start in the weight room this offseason, or what led to your success with the long ball?
A: "Like I said, it was just the weight room and just the approach to it. I didn't really know until one of our guys had told me about it. I'm happy about it, but I'm never really satisfied with it."
Q: As you move into the second part of the season, what is something that you want to improve on to not only help this team but to enhance yourself as a prospect?
A: "Just really staying at a consistent level. Showing up to the field and understanding every day that my ability is good enough and to keep getting better. There's always room to grow, and I just treat it as I'm still just trying to grow through the season. No matter how far into it we are."
Q: Those first three seasons were very solid for you statistically speaking but does it feel better to have as good of a season as you are now in your senior year?
A: "Yeah because I just wanted to try to relax and enjoy the game again. Results are everything but it really has showed that if I just go out there relaxed, I can play a little bit better and I can help the team win."
Q: What kind of role do you try to play for this team as one of the few seniors?
A: I just always thought, whatever I can do to help. I just try to stay ready when my name is called and bring that experience to help guys. I try to help teach them and coach them and just anywhere they can, I try to be the guy that they can lean on. So, I've just kind of taken this opportunity and run with it."
Q: What are your future plans including for your baseball career?
A: "It's just one of those things I've taken as it comes. Because I don't want to stress myself out about what happens. So, it's just kind of playing one game at a time. It's like I said, when we get there, I'll sit down with my close circle and figure out what's going to go on."
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA)), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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Players Mentioned
C/OF
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