How Landon Collins made a heartbreaking exit from the first round of the NFL draftBy LAKEN LITMAN CHICAGO — Landon Collins hadn’t felt this way since his first game as a freshman at Alabama.Nerves had finally set in.The sensation hit Thursday when he woke up at 8 a.m. Collins thought he’d surely be the No. 1 safety selected and no question taken in the first round.By 10:30 p.m., the first round of the 2015 NFL draft had concluded and Collins fled the green room at the Auditorium Theater at Roosevelt University, making his way four blocks to his room at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel.His name was never called.And he didn’t want to talk.He was supposed to be celebrating with friends and family after being drafted at a Chicago club called Underground.Instead, it was an early night.Back on Jan. 15 in his first mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had the former Alabama safety going No. 7 overall to the Chicago Bears. In the last several months he’s slipped in the projections. Kiper had Collins going to the Houston Texans at No. 16 in his latest mock draft, but it was a generous placing compared to other expert opinions.But Collins wasn’t paying attention to his draft stock.Thursday around noon, seven hours before the draft, he couldn’t fathom sliding past the first round. When asked about it, he scoffed.“No I never considered that,†he told USA TODAY Sports.His mother, April Justin, hadn’t either.“Oh no,†she said while getting her makeup done. “That hasn’t entered my mind. He’s going to get picked. He’s going to get out of there today. When we put it in the Lord’s hands, it happens.â€Collins was so excited for Thursday night. He didn’t care as much about the week itself. There were free gifts — Adidas clothes, Sean Jean cologne, Bose headphones — but he gave all of that stuff to his family. He just wanted to get to draft night.“It’s the biggest day of my life,†he said Tuesday. “I’m not nervous. I’m so happy to be here. I got off the plane and immediately started taking pictures.â€But before Thursday night could come, Collins had to go through all the necessary events. Tuesday he and seven other players, such as Trae Waynes, Kevin White and DeVante Parker went to the Adidas store — via a disco party bus with laser lights — to sign autographs and go on a $1,500 shopping spree. Collins bought $250 worth of clothes for himself and used the rest on his family. He took each member around the store and helped them pick out something they wanted.Wednesday, the players had an 8 a.m. meeting with Roger Goodell at their hotel to discuss the draft. Then they went straight to a Play 60 event in Grant Park and a lunch with NFL Legends after that. By the afternoon, Collins was exhausted and disconnected from his PR representative and agent so he could take a nap.He appeared in the hotel lobby around 5 p.m. to drive a $130,000 Tesla down Michigan Ave. to a Sean Jean gifting suite, where he was given cologne, Ciroc and more Old Spice products than he could ever want. He wasn’t giddy or energetic. His body language suggested he’d rather be elsewhere.After his test drive, Collins and his family sat in the fourth row at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. He bought himself an authentic Sammy Sosa jersey.When Thursday finally arrived, Collins’ cousins were telling him that mock drafts had him going to Philadelphia, Kansas City and Dallas, but he didn’t want to hear any of it.“I sat down and said a prayer, talked to my cousins and said, ‘The time just isn’t going fast enough,’†Collins said. “I took a walk in the city because sitting around watching TV, watching ESPN or the NFL Network is going to make it worse.â€At 9:15 a.m. the players went to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Talking about this made Collins smile for the first time in what felt like days. He met a boy named Brandon who beat him in checkers.“He had his mom helping him though, so that wasn’t fair,†Collins joked.Three hours later, Collins had one final event. He and his mom went to get pampered by Pantene and Gillette in a pop-up spa in their hotel. Collins got a haircut and shave in the men’s lounge, while his mom got her nails and makeup done in the women’s salon.The two planned to go shopping the rest of the afternoon before getting ready for the night. Justin wanted a pair of Christian Louboutins, which typically run from $1,000 on up.“Landon throughout the years hasn’t bought me one present,†she said. “But I told him my present is good grades and staying focused, which he did. And I’m really happy about it. But I haven’t gotten one Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day present. This would be the first time.â€At 4 p.m., Collins was getting ready in his hotel suite. He chose a sharp, black three-piece suit for the big night. When he was little and imagined walking across the stage after hearing his name called, he never pictured himself wearing a suit but rather sweat pants or something more casual. This is a much better image.The shirt was white with small black polka dots, the vest was double-breasted and sat low like a waistcoat, the jacket was lined in crimson. A crimson tie was slimly knotted and a crimson pocket square perfectly accented the whole outfit. He was wearing black and white socks.“You can’t forget who made you,†he said of wearing Alabama colors.At 4:30, he went to the players lounge — which was like a jewelry hospitality suite — and picked out some diamond studs. He and his agent walked briskly down the hall toward the elevator. Collins mentioned he hadn’t heard from Saban, but thought he’d be at the draft.Saban didn’t come to the draft.Collins’ father, Thomas, remembered the first time his son ever talked about getting drafted. He was six years old and they were walking around an outlet mall in Biloxi, Miss. They came across a jewelry store and Thomas saw a watch he liked.“When we think something is cool, we say it’s ‘shop,’ so I said, that’s a shop watch,†Thomas said. “Landon looked up at me and said, ‘When I make it to the NFL, I’m gonna buy you that watch.â€Collins remembered this moment. Neither son nor father recalled just how much the watch cost or who made it, just that it was too expensive and buying it was the goal.“That was my dream,†Collins said. “He knows I’m still going to buy him a watch. I don’t think that store is still open, but I’m going to get him something like it.â€Collins’ dream of being the first safety selected was squashed when Green Bay took Damarious Randall at No. 30. But the Redskins, his favorite team growing up, have the fifth pick in the second round and could use help at safety.Collins won’t stick around Chicago, though. He’s heading home to New Orleans for the second round.His moment of triumph has passed. For now.
Saban didn’t come to the draft.
If he gets picked, that would be so shop.
Somewhere, Les Miles grinned.
"Lawyers who shop"
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