Chris Collier Bio
Chris Collier (born March 24, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 203 pounds, he plays a physical, downhill running style shaped by years at the collegiate level. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, he earned a roster spot through the undrafted free agent market and has since built his career across two organizations.
Collier played college football at three different programs, beginning at Nassau Community College, continuing at Wagner, and finishing at Lock Haven. His breakout 2023 season at Lock Haven established him as one of the most productive running backs in NCAA Division II and ultimately launched his professional career. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024 before joining the Las Vegas Raiders later that same year.
Early Life and Background
Chris Collier was born on March 24, 2000, and grew up in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York. He began playing football at the age of six, developing his skills in the local youth football community in a region well known for producing competitive players. His early introduction to the sport laid the foundation for a career built on consistent, hard-nosed running between the tackles.
He attended Lawrence High School, where he continued to develop at the running back position. As a senior, he helped Lawrence compile a 10–2 record while rushing for more than 1,800 yards and scoring 25 touchdowns, demonstrating the kind of workload that hinted at future professional potential. Despite those strong numbers, Collier received limited college recruitment attention after suffering a knee injury the previous year, an event that caused many programs to withdraw their interest.
After high school, Collier enrolled at Nassau Community College in New York to continue his football career at the junior college level. The decision allowed him to extend his development window, recover fully from his prior injury, and pursue a path back to full-speed college football.
Path to American Football
Collier’s path to the professional ranks was unconventional, with stops at three different college programs reflecting both setbacks and steady progression. At Nassau, he was a fourth-string running back who saw limited action across his two seasons. As a freshman in 2018, he totaled 78 rushing yards, and in 2019, he added 270 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown while also catching five receiving touchdowns, showing his ability to contribute in the passing game.
After his time at Nassau, Collier transferred to the NCAA Division I FCS program at Wagner, where he had an offer to continue his college career. He ran for 83 yards in two games during the COVID-19-shortened spring 2021 season and added 168 yards in six games during the fall 2021 schedule. However, his tenure at Wagner was complicated by multiple concussions, including three in a six-game span, that limited his production and availability. Following the 2022 season, he transferred to Lock Haven to play for the Bald Eagles at the NCAA Division II level.
His move to Lock Haven proved to be the turning point in his development. In 2023, Collier delivered a breakout season, playing 11 games while rushing for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns, and adding 22 receptions for 238 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He broke Lock Haven’s all-time single-season rushing yards record and helped the Bald Eagles achieve their best season since 1982.
Chris Collier Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Chris Collier’s college career began quietly at Nassau Community College, where he spent two seasons as a deep reserve. In 16 total games for the Lions, he ran for 348 yards, added 184 receiving yards, and scored six touchdowns, with the bulk of his production coming during his sophomore year. Those numbers were modest, but they demonstrated a player who could contribute as a dual-threat back when given opportunities.
At Wagner, Collier’s role remained limited by both opportunity and injuries. Across the spring 2021, fall 2021, and 2022 seasons, he appeared in 11 total games and recorded 337 rushing yards. The concussions he battled at Wagner were a major obstacle, but his persistence allowed him to finish his time there with valuable Division I experience before making the move to Lock Haven.
Lock Haven Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 season at Lock Haven transformed Chris Collier from a journeyman into a legitimate professional prospect. In 11 games for the Bald Eagles, he ran for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching 22 passes for 238 yards and three scores. His production powered Lock Haven to its best season in more than four decades, and he shattered the program’s single-season rushing record along the way.
Collier earned numerous honors for that performance, including PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-PSAC, First-Team Division II All-American, and D2CCA Second-Team All-Region recognition. He was also named to the DII Elite 100 team and was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to the best player in NCAA Division II. He was a three-time conference player of the week during the season, underscoring how consistently he produced at a high level.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Chris Collier signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on a three-year, $2.8 million contract. He had impressed scouts at his pro day, running a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and posting a 6.78 three-cone drill, each better than any running back at that year’s NFL Scouting Combine. His testing numbers opened doors that the draft process had initially closed.
Collier saw action during the preseason as both a running back and a kick returner, totaling 28 rushes for 104 yards along with two receptions. The Ravens waived him on August 27, 2024, and re-signed him to their practice squad the following day. He was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys and made his NFL debut in the 28–25 win, appearing on one special teams snap. He became only the third Lock Haven alumnus ever to play in the NFL, and the first since 1987. He was elevated a second time for Week 4 and a third time for Week 5, appearing on 11 special teams snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals and returning two kickoffs for 22 yards.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
On November 20, 2024, Chris Collier signed with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad, seeking a fresh opportunity to establish himself in the league. He was promoted to the active roster on December 18, 2024, marking the next step in his professional progression. The move to Las Vegas gave him a new organization in which to develop and compete for a larger role.
As part of the 2025 offseason roster process, the Raiders waived Collier on August 26, 2025, before re-signing him to the practice squad the next day. He entered the 2025 season working to climb back to the active roster and contribute on special teams, while continuing to push for an expanded offensive role within the Raiders’ running back group.
Notable Events and Milestones
Chris Collier’s most significant milestone came in 2023, when he broke Lock Haven’s all-time single-season rushing yards record and helped the Bald Eagles reach their best season since 1982. His 1,393 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns that year made him one of the most decorated players in program history. He became only the third Lock Haven alumnus ever to play in the NFL when he made his debut with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, becoming the first since 1987. Additionally, his pro-day testing numbers in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill exceeded every running back at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, even though he went undrafted.
Chris Collier Career Wins
Chris Collier’s career wins are concentrated primarily in his standout 2023 season at Lock Haven, where he helped lead the Bald Eagles to their best record in over four decades. While he did not capture a conference championship, his individual production drove team success and earned him national recognition as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II. At the professional level, his NFL debut with the Baltimore Ravens came in a 28–25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, marking his first win as a professional player.
Lock Haven Highlights
During his single season at Lock Haven in 2023, Chris Collier became the centerpiece of one of the most productive offenses in program history. He rushed for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns, broke the school’s all-time single-season rushing record, and added 22 receptions for 238 yards and three receiving touchdowns. The Bald Eagles finished with their best record since 1982, and Collier’s efforts were recognized with PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-PSAC, First-Team Division II All-American, D2CCA Second-Team All-Region, and DII Elite 100 honors. He was also a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in NCAA Division II.
Chris Collier Family
Personal Life
Chris Collier is originally from Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, the community where he first began playing football at the age of six. His family roots on Long Island remain tied to his early development as a running back, including his standout senior season at Lawrence High School that helped launch his college career.
2025 Season Performance
Chris Collier entered the 2025 NFL season looking to secure a stable role with the Las Vegas Raiders after joining the organization midway through the 2024 campaign. As part of the Raiders’ final roster cuts, he was waived on August 26, 2025, and quickly re-signed to the practice squad the following day. That back-and-forth movement reflected the competitive depth of the team’s running back room and the organization’s continued interest in retaining his services.
Throughout the 2025 season, Collier has been called upon primarily for special teams duties and depth at the running back position, with the team continuing to evaluate his development. The early part of the year was focused on building trust with the coaching staff, learning the offensive system, and remaining ready for elevation opportunities similar to the ones he received with the Ravens in 2024.
Looking ahead, Collier’s outlook for the remainder of the 2025 season centers on earning expanded playing time on offense and continuing to contribute on special teams. His combination of pro-day testing numbers, Lock Haven production, and NFL exposure across two organizations gives him a credible path toward a larger role as the season progresses.