A sign used to hang at one end zone at Pitt
Stadium that said “Dwight in Flight,” which well described the
athletic ability of Beaver Falls' Dwight Collins. From the time he
was a high school freshman, it was clear that he was an exceptional
athlete. Dwight became the first Tiger freshman to earn
four letters in three sports each – football, basketball, and track.
By his senior year, Dwight was named a high school All American and
listed as one of the top 25 football players in the country,
named to the Dapper Dan Basketball Classic, and won the state track championship in the 200 meters.
But it was because of his
football prowess that Pitt offered him a scholarship. Dwight made an
immediate impact as a wide receiver for the Panthers, breaking
several receiving records and being named a Freshman All American.
Dwight was a favorite target of quarterback Dan Marino and in one
game caught seven balls for 187 yards. For his collegiate career, he
had 133 receptions for 2264 yards and 24 touchdowns and 144 points.
Dwight played the 1984 season with the Minnesota Vikings and had a
stay with the Detroit Lions in 1985. He later returned to Beaver
County
and served as an assistant coach in both football and basketball at
Beaver Falls High School, culminating with the Tigers winning the PIAA Class AAA basketball championship in 1994.
A sign used to hang at one end zone at Pitt
Stadium that said “Dwight in Flight,” which well described the
athletic ability of Beaver Falls' Dwight Collins. From the time he
was a high school freshman, it was clear that he was an exceptional
athlete. Dwight became the first Tiger freshman to earn
four letters in three sports each – football, basketball, and track.
By his senior year, Dwight was named a high school All American and
listed as one of the top 25 football players in the country,
named to the Dapper Dan Basketball Classic, and won the state track championship in the 200 meters.
But it was because of his
football prowess that Pitt offered him a scholarship. Dwight made an
immediate impact as a wide receiver for the Panthers, breaking
several receiving records and being named a Freshman All American.
Dwight was a favorite target of quarterback Dan Marino and in one
game caught seven balls for 187 yards. For his collegiate career, he
had 133 receptions for 2264 yards and 24 touchdowns and 144 points.
Dwight played the 1984 season with the Minnesota Vikings and had a
stay with the Detroit Lions in 1985. He later returned to Beaver
County
and served as an assistant coach in both football and basketball at
Beaver Falls High School, culminating with the Tigers winning the PIAA Class AAA basketball championship in 1994.