After delay, Collins signs with Arkansas

No matter. A day later than he intended — and after yet another odd twist to his recruiting saga — Collins signed with the Razorbacks on Thursday. The highly rated and highly coveted running back from South Plantation High near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., did so with his father providing the written consent required by NCAA rules.

Collins said his mother, who would not sign the letter of intent on Wednesday as many expected, supported his college decision. But she was notably absent from his hastily scheduled event on Thursday, and a law firm founded by former O.J. Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran said that Andrea McDonald retained their services to represent "the family's interests."

That announcement was made about 45 minutes before Alex Collins and his father Johnny Collins put pens to paper, officially sealing his college choice.

"I'm happy it's over," Alex Collins said. "I didn't think about going anywhere else because I had my mind set. This is where I wanted to go. I just talked to my mom. I let her know. I explained myself and we have a better understanding."

The running back said he was unaware that his mother hired attorney Jack Paris from the Cochran Law Firm, insisting that "no one hired any lawyers." But in a statement Thursday, Paris said the Collins family wanted "to make a clean choice that is free of any outside influences."

"It's where he wanted to go," said Johnny Collins, who was not part of Wednesday's planned ceremony.

Later Thursday, Paris released a second statement, saying it remains "a difficult time" for McDonald.