OREGON - A strong connection with Jordan Banfield brought Drew Collins to Akron. But when the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator left the Mid-American Conference program for the head coaching position at Oakland, Collins had a decision to make.

“We had a really good relationship,” the recent Clay graduate explained. “He’s a good guy and I believe in what he’s doing. You want to be somewhere you’re comfortable, and I thought it would be in my best interest to make a change.”

So the 14th-ranked 2020 outfielder in the state decommitted from Akron and has since made a commitment to play for Banfield at the Horizon League school in Michigan.

“I think this will make me a better player and better person,” Collins related.

The camaraderie between the 63rd-rated player in Ohio and the new head coach at Oakland helped seal the deal on both ends.

“We talked about schooling and I said that I’ve really matured,” Collins said. “He thought I was a hard worker. He said he liked what he saw in me and could mold me into a better baseball player.”

Improvement is a major point of emphasis for Collins, who is playing on Ohio Elite after the cancellation of a Collegiate Wooden Bat League he had originally planned to participate in this summer.

“I’m definitely focused on getting better at hitting,” the 6-1 170-pound left-handed hitting outfielder noted. “You can’t put enough hours into hitting. Me and my dad have been working in the backyard and any weaknesses that we see are there, we work on fixing them.”

Support from family, his mother and father along with his brother, has been a major influence in helping Collins get where he is in the game today according to the 18-year-old.

“All my coaches and Ohio Elite have also helped get me noticed and understand the ins and outs,” Collins pointed out.

Admittedly, the decision to change schools had an affect on Collins.

“It was a stressful process,” Collins said. “Kind of restarting the whole process again was tough, but fortunately for me I had a landing spot. An opportunity was there and it definitely worked out in the end.”

With plans to major in business, Collins looks anxiously toward his time at Oakland, which is located 90 minutes from home, an hour closer than Akron.

“As soon as I get there I’m ready to go to work,” Collins noted. “I’m ready to do whatever the coaches have in mind for me. I’m planning on gaining weight and gaining muscle. I’m never going to stop working.”

That has never been part of the equation for Collins, especially with a bigger goal ahead in the future.

“I want to try and make it to the next level,” Collins said in reference to professional ball. That’s a lot of people’s dreams.”

But before being concerned with that, Collins hopes to help the Oakland program excel under the direction of the new head coach.

“I want to try and enjoy my next four years as much as I can and have as much fun as possible,” Collins said. “ 

He could not be more happy with the way it all worked out.

“It couldn’t have asked for a better situation,” Collins summed it all up. “I’m truly blessed. The coaches gave me an opportunity and all the hard work is paying off. But I’m definitely not done yet.”