East Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame
Football, Track and Field • 1972-75
Tim Collier was a three-time All-American defensive back for the Lions, including First Team All-America honors in his senior season. During his freshman season, he was a part of the Lions' NAIA National Championship team. From 1973-75, he was selected First Team All-Lone Star Conference all three seasons.
Under the guidance of Lion and LSC Hall of Fame coach Ernest Hawkins, Collier and the Lions went 33-13-1 in his four seasons. The 6-foot 2-inch defensive back contributed 42 punt returns for 420 yards (10.0 average), 47 kickoff returns for 1,089 yards (23.2 average) and nine interception returns for 90 yards (10.0) average. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and also had a punt return for a touchdown. His two kickoff returns for touchdowns remains a school record as of 2017.
Collier was also a member of the track and field team, running in the sprint events and the relays.
After his college career, Collier was drafted in the ninth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL for the Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. He won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.
