When Penn State's Gerry Collins was growing up in Cinnaminson, N.J., he didn't have to look far to get together a backyard football game.

All he had to do was round up some of his 18 brothers and sisters. He had plenty of good competition with this bunch, too -- older brother Andre, a former Penn State star, went on to start as linebacker with the Washington Redskins his rookie season. A third brother, Phil, joins Gerry at Penn State this season, playing in the wide receiver spot.

The family competition must have sharpened Gerry Collins' own talents, as he is one of the frontrunners to take the place of Leroy Thompson as the Lions' starting tailback.

"It was really good to grow up with a lot of brothers and sisters," Collins said. "Everyone always got along and we had a lot of fun playing. Everyone was athletic and there was always a lot of competition, and that's going to make you better in whatever you do."

Collins has been playing football for just about as long as he's been walking, and has always played tailback.

"When I was a kid and watched football on TV, I always liked the running backs. I always wanted to do that," the 5'8", 191-pound Collins said. "Plus, I wasn't really big so there weren't that many positions open for me."

"He always had a football under his arm," his mother, Frances Collins said. "Every chance he had he was out playing football, in the backyard, in the house, everywhere.

"Gerry was the rough one," she added. "He always wanted to keep tackling everybody, where Andre wanted to cool it down a bit once in awhile. Gerry just never wanted to stop."

Collins suited up for his first organized game at the age of six, in the under-65-pound little league. He continued to play in leagues until his ninth-grade year, when he joined Cinnaminson High School's team. He excelled there, becoming the team captain his senior year and being named second team All-South Jersey and All-County.

Even with the honors, he felt he was underrated, especially when many Divison I teams passed him up because of his size.

Collins was only offered a scholarship from Colorado State, so he started his collegiate career there reluctantly, unhappy because it was so far away from home.

"It was way too far away for me, but it was the only school to give me a scholarship so I took the opportunity," Collins said.

Collins' unhappiness grew when he was placed on Colorado State's fourth team. He felt he was better, so he started looking East towards Penn State, where his brother was making news as a linebacker. His mother was also a big supporter of Coach Joe Paterno's program.

"She likes Coach Paterno," Collins said. "She thinks he does a real good job and teaches his players a lot. She also likes that it's a big school close to home."

"He called home after the first semester (at Colorado State) and said, 'Mom, I want to come home.' " Frances Collins said. "So I told him to talk to his brothers. His brothers told him if he was unhappy then go ahead and leave."

Collins made the decision to give up his scholarship and take a chance with the Lions. Here, he found the program more regimented and the competition stiffer, he said.

He had to sit out his first year here since he transferred, and played on the scout team to help the defense prepare for its opponents. His main concern was to get a scholarship, so he devoted his time and energy toward that goal.

"Coach Paterno said I was doing a real good job. I was working hard, trying to get a scholarship," he said.

It wasn't until the annual spring Blue-White game in 1989 that Collins got to show what he could do in an actual game situation. When No. 23 (now No. 34) lined up behind quarterback Tom Bill on April 22, 1989, few knew anything about him. He was determined to change that.

"It was my opportunity to prove what I could do," Collins said.

As the game went on, the press box started buzzing with questions about the squat runner who resembled Joe Morris of the New York Giants.

"Who's that No. 23?"

"Gerry Collins? Is he related to Andre?"

"Where's he from? Colorado State?"

"You're telling me he's a walk-on?"

By the end of the game, he had the attention he was looking for. Gaining 143 yards on the ground, he was the game's leading rusher. He also scored two touchdowns, one a 36-yard break away.

Collins showed he has speed, power and the ability to find the hole. Satisfied he was a consistent tail back, Paterno offered him a scholarship.

But that year the press and public would see very little of Collins, since All-America Blair Thomas held the spotlight. But when Collins was in, he continued to impress. He rushed for 293 yards on 62 carries, a 4.7 yards per carry average that year. He also had a 104-yard game against Syracuse, even though he only played in one half of the game. He was the only Lion other than Thomas to have over 100 yards rushing in a single game that season.

With Thomas gone to the New York Jets the following season, Collins was looking to make a large impact at the tailback spot.

His dreams of capturing the starting position were ruined, however, when a teammate fell on his knee in a preseason scrimmage. Collins was forced to sit out for most of the season, only seeing limited action. He still was able to gain 165 yards on 41 carries for a 4.0 average.

"It's one of the worst feelings sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else play," he said. "Really, the only thing I could do is rest my knee. I hated being on the sidelines."

With last year's two leading rushers, Thompson and Gary Brown, graduated, Collins has a big goal for this year: He wants to rush for more than 1000 yards.

Collins spot, however, isn't a guarantee. A formidable challenger stands in his way: Richie Anderson, returning from his redshirt year.

Anderson's and Collins' styles and builds are completely different. While Collins is built short and bulky, Anderson is taller, leaner and quicker.

"Collins' strongest suit is his low center of gravity," offensive coordinator Fran Ganter said. "He's low to ground and also has unbelievable strength. Of course, he wouldn't have the super quickness of a Blair Thomas, but his build suits his running style.

"Richard has really great vision and an uncanny knack to find a crack. He doesn't need a big hole, he slashes through it and accelerates towards the goal line."

Anderson came much more highly touted out of high school than Collins. The 6'1", 211-pound sophomore was a consensus All-American and rushed for 3,500 yards at Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, Md. As a senior, he averaged eight yards a carry for more than 200 yards a game.

Anderson's high school coach, Robert Stroup, compared him to Eric Dickerson and said the team was built around his abilities.

"He was all I had, he did it all by himself," Stroup said. "He's the best running back I've seen since I've been coaching, and I've been at it for 30 years.

"He has great work habits on and off the field. He's a gentleman."

But where Anderson may have Collins beat in natural ability, Collins has both experience and a good sense of balance to his advantage.

"He's strong, and being low to the ground he's able to keep his balance where I may not be able to," Anderson said.

Collins and Anderson are "neck to neck" for the starting position, Ganter said. The competition, however, is a friendly one, the players said.

"We're competing with each other but it's not like we're not talking to each other," Collins said. "It's a friendly competition. It stops off the field."

"Whatever happens on the field stays on the field," Anderson agreed. "We encourage each other, which is good.

"We're not the ones who determines who's going to be starting, we leave that up to Joe (Paterno)."

And right now, it seems that Paterno has either not made up his mind or isn't telling, except to say, in his usual ambiguous way, that they both "can do some things."

As if the competition isn't close enough, Shelly Hammonds, originally predicted to be working on the defensive secondary this spring, has also joined the race for the tailback spot.

The junior is best remembered for his phenomenal game against Boston College last season, where he rushed for 208 yards, a sophomore record, after backfield mainstays Thompson and Brown sat on the sidelines injured.

Hammonds was South Carolina's AA Player of the Year his senior year in high school.

"It's real good competition, we're all real good fans," Hammonds said.

Hammonds and Anderson both have multiple seasons to prove themselves to Paterno. But this is Collins' last year of eligibility. He is hungry for the starting spot to launch him into a professional career.

"My knee is fully recovered. Hopefully it will be a big year for me," Collins said.

Collins wants to follow in the footsteps of Andre Collins and join the ranks of the elite in the National Football League. He is proud of his older brother, with whom he shared a bedroom while they were growing up. Collins posted his brother's football card in his room, although he jokes his loyalty is split when Washington plays Dallas since he is a Cowboys fan.

"But I still tell people that's he's my brother," Collins said.

Collins talks openly about his family and the football team, but when it comes to questions about himself, he says very little. Players and coaches all say that Collins is a quiet leader, letting his work ethic and determination set examples for the younger players.

"He's very quiet," Ganter said. "He leads by example."

"He doesn't always like to start the conversation," his mother agreed.

Ganter said Collins' attitude is a lot like his older brother's.

"The one thing that stands out with Andre and Gerry is that they're both independent," Ganter said. "They are their own men. That's what they are, men. They don't look for any favors. That's the way they had to be, growing up with 18 brothers and sisters. They're a very special family, I just love them all."

Although their attitudes may be similar, getting to the pros will be a little more difficult for the younger Collins. Andre Collins was a standout linebacker, an Associated Press All-America selection. Gerry Collins has had none of the recognition that Andre had going into his senior year. Plus, he has a major disadvantage in his size. His hopes of going pro all rest on having a superb season.

"Hopefully I can rush for over 1000 yards this season so I can get a good look by the pros," he said. "I've been playing this long, so I have to give it a shot at the pros."

If he doesn't get a go at the pros, Collins, a exercise science major, plans to work at a gym.

"I really like to lift weights, and I like to help people train."