Something special about Eagles' fourth-round pick
Mack Hollins likely will begin his career with the Eagles next season as the team's fourth or fifth wide receiver. But the fourth-round pick from the University of North Carolina is expected to make an immediate impact on special teams.
You may have heard that special teams are kind of a big deal with the Eagles. Special teams coach Dave Fipp has had the league's top-ranked special teams in two of the last three years, including last season.
The 6-4, 221-pound Hollins is a vertical threat who averaged 20.6 yards per catch for the Tar Heels. But he was also a special teams captain all four years he played at Chapel Hill.
"The way I got on the field, I walked on there and special teams is how I got my opportunity to travel with the team. After my freshman year, I became a special teams captain and was captain all four years.
"I never would forget that special teams is how I got my opportunity. I started on all four (special teams) my entire career.
"I loved it. You have one opportunity, one play, to make a difference. I take it very seriously. I know a lot of college players let their pride (about special teams) get in the way. But I think special teams is important. It means either field position or points. It's just as important as any offensive and defensive snap.''
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NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said Hollins probably was the best special teams player in the draft not including returners. "He'll be a core special teams player, which is rare for a wideout,'' Mayock said.
The Eagles have not re-signed one of their top special teams players, Bryan Braman, who is an unrestricted free agent. So, Hollins will help offset his loss.
The Eagles brought Hollins, who is from Rockville, Md., in for a visit about two weeks before the draft. He met with several of the team's coaches, including Fipp.
"I can't wait to be coached by him and to learn more (special teams) stuff, which is limitless,'' Hollins said. "You can always become a better special teams player, and coach Fipp is the guy I want to learn from. It's kind of heaven-sent that I ended up with the Eagles.''
Hollins joins an already tall wide receiver corps that includes 6-5 Dorial Green-Beckham, 6-4 Alshon Jeffery, 6-3 Jordan Matthews and 6-1 Torrey Smith, in addition to 6-0 Nelson Agholor and 5-10 Paul Turner.
With the addition of Hollins, Green-Beckham is going to be hard-pressed to make the team since he really can't contribute on special teams.
Hollins ran a 4.53 forty at the scouting combine, which is good for someone his size. Mike Williams, who was taken with the seventh overall pick by the San Diego Chargers also ran a 4.53.
Hollins had his senior season cut short last year when he broke his clavicle in the Tar Heels' seventh game. As a junior, he averaged 24.8 yards per catch and had eight touchdowns.
Hollins has several exotic animals, including two snakes – a ball python and a sunglow boa. "I have both of my snakes here right now,'' he said in a telephone conference call with reporters. "I was going to get an alligator at school, but my roomates weren't really all for it.''
Hollins said his father had a lion when he was growing up in Ohio. "His dad had it in a big cage in his yard,'' he said. "I guess in Ohio, the (exotic animal) permits aren't as difficult to get.''
