T.J. McCollum

Position:
LB
Height:
6-3
Weight:
230
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Birmingham, Ala.

2016 Preseason All-C-USA First Team (Athlon)
2015 Conference USA Honorable Mention

CAREER GAME HIGHS:

Total Tackles - 13 at Old Dominion (10/31/15)
Solo Tackles - 8, Twice (Last at FIU, 11/21/15)
Tackles for Loss - 4.0 at FIU, 11/21/15
Sacks - 1, Three times (Last at LSU, 10/24/15)

2015 (r-So.): McCollum jumped right into the starting lineup as a transfer and started all 14 games for WKU and led the Hilltoppers in tackles with 106 (69 solo) and tackles for loss with 11.5 for 30 yards. McCollum's 80 tackles on rushing plays were 18 more than the next closest player while his 20 tackles on passing plays ranked second among linebackers. His 11.5 tackles for loss were also 2.5 more than any player and four more than the next closest linebacker. McCollum's 37 assisted tackles also led the team. He posted a career-best 13 tackles (eight solo) at Old Dominion and had double-digit tackle performances in three games (Indiana, Old Dominion, FIU). His 7.6 tackles per game were No. 14 in Conference USA and he led the league in solo tackles (69) while his 11.5 tackles for loss were 11th in the league and third-most among linebackers. He finished the year as one of just seven C-USA linebackers to eclipse the 100-tackle mark as his 106 tackles were fourth-most among C-USA linebackers. McCollum also posted three or more tackles for loss in two games, against Miami (Ohio) (3.0) and at FIU (4.0). He was one of only eight C-USA players to tally at least 4.0 TFL in a game. He picked off his first pass against Southern Miss in the C-USA Championship Game after the ball was deflected at the line by fellow UAB transfer Jontavius Morris, a diving grab in the third quarter. Before WKU: McCollum transferred to WKU from UAB where he appeared in 10 games in 2014 with seven tackles (six solo) after being redshirted in 2013. McCollum tallied a career-high three tackles in a win over Alabama A&M and also registered stops against Troy, Mississippi State, North Texas and Louisiana Tech in his lone season of action for the Blazers. HS/Misc.: McCollum was a three-star prospect coming out of Clay-Chalkville High School according to Rivals.com. He played wide receiver in early in his prep career before switching to defensive back as an upperclassman. He recorded 101 tackles and intercepted five passes during his two seasons on defense while leading his team to an AHSAA 6A semifinal berth as a senior.