Chris Collier Bio
Chris Collier is an American professional football running back who currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. Born on March 24, 2000, in Lawrence, New York, Collier has built a remarkable football career that spans from small-town high school fields to the NFL. His journey includes stops at three different college programs, culminating in a standout season at NCAA Division II Lock Haven that earned him national recognition. The 5-foot-11-inch, 203-pound running back signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 after a brief tenure with the Baltimore Ravens.
Early Life and Background
Chris Collier was born on March 24, 2000, in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, where he began playing football at the age of six. He attended Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst, New York, where he played running back for the football team. During his senior season, Collier helped Lawrence compile a 10-2 record while rushing for over 1,800 yards and scoring 25 touchdowns, demonstrating the explosive abilities that would define his career.
Despite his impressive high school production, Collier received limited attention from college recruiters. The primary reason was a knee injury he sustained the year before his senior season, which caused most schools to lose interest in his services. This setback led Collier to enroll at Nassau Community College, where he would continue his football development while playing at the junior college level.
Path to the NFL
Collier began his college career at Nassau Community College, where he served as a fourth-string running back and saw limited playing time over two seasons. In his freshman year of 2018, he totaled 78 rushing yards. His sophomore season in 2019 showed improvement as he ran for 270 yards and one touchdown while also catching five receiving touchdowns. Across 16 total games at Nassau, Collier accumulated 348 rushing yards, 184 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
After his junior college career, Collier received an offer to continue at the NCAA Division I FCS level with the Wagner Seahawks and transferred there in 2020. However, his time at Wagner was hampered by concussions, with Collier sustaining three concussions within a six-game span during his tenure. He ran for 83 yards in the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season and 168 yards in the fall 2021 season. He managed only 86 yards in three games during the 2022 season before deciding to transfer again.
Collier transferred to Lock Haven University, an NCAA Division II program, for the 2023 season. This move proved to be the turning point in his football career. With the Bald Eagles, he enjoyed a breakout season, playing 11 games while rushing for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also recorded 22 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns. His performance helped Lock Haven achieve its best season since 1982 and broke the school’s all-time single-season rushing yards record. Collier emerged as a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded to the best player in NCAA Division II, and earned numerous honors including PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-PSAC, First-Team Division II All-American, D2CCA Second-Team All-Region, and a spot on the DII Elite 100 team.
Chris Collier Career
Baltimore Ravens (2024)
Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, Collier impressed at his pro day with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and a 6.78-second three-cone drill. Both marks were better than any running back who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine that year. Despite these strong performances, Collier went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent, receiving a three-year, $2.8 million contract.
During the preseason, Collier appeared as both a running back and kick returner, recording 28 rushes for 104 yards and two receptions. He was waived by the Ravens on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the 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 victory, appearing on one special teams snap. With this debut, Collier became only the third Lock Haven alumnus ever to play in the NFL and the first since 1987.
Collier was elevated two more times during the season, for Weeks 4 and 5. He saw no action in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills but appeared on 11 special teams snaps in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, returning two kickoffs for 22 yards. His versatility as both a rusher and return specialist demonstrated his value to the organization.
Las Vegas Raiders (2024-Present)
On November 20, 2024, Collier signed with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 18, 2024, continuing his NFL journey with a new team. The move to Las Vegas represented an opportunity for Collier to compete for a more significant role within an organization.
During the 2025 season, Collier began the year with the Raiders before being waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. He was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Collier signed a reserve/future contract with Las Vegas on January 5, 2026, securing his place with the organization for the foreseeable future.
Driving Style and Strengths
Collier has shown versatility throughout his career, demonstrating the ability to contribute both as a traditional running back and as a kick returner. His 4.48-second 40-yard dash at his pro day showcased his speed, while his collegiate production at multiple programs highlighted his ability to adapt to different offensive systems. His experience playing at the junior college, Division I FCS, and Division II levels provided him with a diverse skill set and football IQ that translates to the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several significant moments define Collier’s young NFL career. His signing with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent marked the beginning of his professional journey. His NFL debut with the Ravens in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys made him only the third Lock Haven alumnus to play in the NFL and the first since 1987. His promotion to the Las Vegas Raiders active roster in December 2024 represented another milestone, as he continues to work toward establishing himself at the sport’s highest level.
Chris Collier Career Wins
While offensive statistics do not translate directly to wins in football, Collier’s career has been marked by significant personal and team achievements across multiple levels of competition.
College Highlights
Collier’s most decorated season came at Lock Haven in 2023, where he rushed for 1,393 yards and 12 touchdowns while helping the team achieve its best season since 1982. He broke the school’s all-time single-season rushing yards record and earned PSAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, First-Team All-PSAC recognition, and First-Team Division II All-American honors. His 2024 NFL debut with the Baltimore Ravens marked his transition to professional football.
Professional Highlights
During his time with the Ravens in the 2024 preseason, Collier recorded 28 rushes for 104 yards and two receptions, demonstrating his ability to contribute on offense. His regular season appearances included special teams work and kick return duties, showcasing the versatility that helped him reach the NFL despite going undrafted.
Chris Collier Family
Family Background
Public information regarding Chris Collier’s family background and lineage is not extensively documented in available sources. Collier was born and raised in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, where he attended Lawrence High School before beginning his college football journey.
Personal Life
Chris Collier maintains an active presence on social media with an X (formerly Twitter) account under the handle @carisma_chris and an Instagram account under @_chriscarisma_. Beyond his football career, detailed personal life information remains private. Collier’s professional focus has been on establishing himself in the NFL following his unique path from a lightly recruited high school player to college standout to professional athlete.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a pivotal year in Chris Collier’s professional career. After joining the Las Vegas Raiders organization late in the 2024 season, Collier began the 2025 campaign with the team before being waived during final roster cuts in late August. His re-signing to the practice squad demonstrated the organization’s continued interest in his development and potential contributions.
Collier’s experience with both the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders has provided him with valuable NFL exposure across different organizations and coaching systems. His ability to contribute on special teams while continuing to develop as a running back remains central to his strategy for earning a more prominent role. The January 2026 reserve/future contract he signed with Las Vegas indicates the Raiders view him as part of their future plans.
The outlook for Collier centers on his continued development within the Raiders organization. His collegiate success at Lock Haven, combined with his pro day testing numbers and early NFL experience, suggest he possesses the tools to contribute at the professional level. His journey from an overlooked high school recruit to NFL player exemplifies the persistence and adaptability required to reach the sport’s highest level.