At first, it seemed like a farce. As it became real, it just got funnier.

Will Collins had no clue how to react, when college coaches began talking to him. USC's fifth-year senior long snapper did not get a first look until his career at Mater Dei High had ended, and he received an invitation to a national camp in Las Vegas.

Collins flew to Vegas with skepticism. He flew home with the bemused understanding that he could play major college football.

"When I started getting offers and started getting recruited just to snap, we're just kind of sitting there laughing about it – 'What a joke this is! What a trip! It's just hilarious,'" Collins said.

It turned into a blessing that he, and his family, would rely on through tragedy.

* * *

Collins probably would have traveled to Las Vegas by himself. When he received an invitation to Chris Sailer's "first-annual" national kicking and snapping event, the family's "BS flag" shot up.

Sailer may be the country's highest-profile name in kicking, punting and long-snapping instruction. But the Collins clan didn't know that.

Still, the whole family made the trip – not for Will, but for his younger sister, Andi.

Chemotherapy had deprived the teenager of her hair, and a few days away provided a low-key setting, where she could grow comfortable in a wig. Each morning, John Collins drove his son to UNLV, before spending the day alongside Andi and his wife, Patty.

"Sunday, I dropped him off again, and he said they were going to have college coaches there," John said. "That's another red flag."

He thought, "They're going to have three guys from Rio Hondo junior college."

When John arrived to pick up Will, several schools, including Duke and UCLA, were expressing interest. Will says he was more bewildered than anything.

Once they boarded the plane home, John recalls saying, "I tell you what: You get a scholarship, I'll buy you a car.

"I'm thinking, 'Who gives a scholarship to a long snapper?'"

* * *

At Mater Dei, Collins started at tight end and also played some linebacker, teaming with Matt Leinart for part of his career. In middle school, Collins had snapped shotgun for the flag football team. When he reached high school, he tried long snapping.

"I just put my other hand on the ball, and I could do it," Collins said. "I've never gotten coached or anything."

A solid high school career concluded in 2002, and Collins had not received so much as a generic recruiting letter.

"I said, 'Well, I'm done with football.'"

However, a standout performance in a regional snapping competition led to the Vegas invitation. At the Sailer camp, Collins met USC punter Tom Malone and future kicker Mario Danelo. Malone caught snaps from Collins and shared the experience with Trojans special teams coordinator Kennedy Pola. Leinart gave his endorsement to the staff, and Collins chose USC.

* * *

Weighing only 180 pounds (he now carries 230), Collins entered his first season as an obvious redshirt candidate. When training camp ended, he moved into his freshman apartment with Danelo and continued the process of adding muscle and honing his technique.

Collins would not suit up until the first home game of the 2003 season, Sept. 6 against BYU. Two days prior, Andi had succumbed to cancer at 16.

Coach Pete Carroll called the Collins family – speaking to them for the first time – to offer his condolences. Before the game, Carroll hugged Will on the field.

"It was tremendous, tremendous support," John said.

He and Patty attend every game – home and road.

* * *

During Collins' redshirt season, Drew Radovich and Michael McDonald were there for constant support. Football was there for structure.

"It was a distraction," Radovich said of the game. "It just kept him focused and gave him an outlet, instead of always thinking about Andi and what just happened. … If it wasn't for football, I don't know how he would have handled it."

Collins is not sure either.

"Football kind of saved me," he said.

Said John, "I think it did that for everybody. It gave us all a great distraction to kind of take our mind off the terrible loss and focus on something new and different. And everybody kind of channeled their interest toward his progress. It was something for the whole family."

In the second semester of 2003-04, Carroll awarded Collins with a scholarship. He has started every game since, 51-straight.

* * *

Patty once received a call from an elementary school teacher, suggesting that Will develop an "inside voice."

As the longest-tenured "kicker" – an all-encompassing title for the place kickers, punters and long snappers – Collins takes the shouting lead for his position group in each USC practice. He controls the pitching machine and peppers the air with footballs and playful expletives – both directed toward punters, who have to catch them from different positions.

"I've been pantsed in meetings; I've been knocked over," said punter Greg Woidneck. "Sometimes they just come up and throw balls at me and start wrestling. It's always been like that, but it's fun.

"(Collins) also knows exactly when to get serious and draw that line."

Sam Anno, USC's video assistant, played in the NFL for seven years. A backup linebacker, long snapper and all-purpose special teamer, Anno earned NFL special teams player of the year honors in 1989. He has been on the USC staff the past few years.

"In that job, you're a sniper," Anno said of long snapping. "You don't get a second shot. … If you mess something up, you have to live with it for awhile, until you get the next chance.

"You've got to deal with the demons."

During practice, Collins keeps them at bay with ebullience. Position players often walk by and tease the "kickers," who expend considerably less physical energy in practice.

"He's living the life," Radovich, the starting right tackle, said with a smile.

Collins usually is game for some banter.

"They'll say, 'You having a rough day?'" Collins said.

"I'll say, 'No.'

"'Did you break a sweat?'

"'Yeah, a little one. How you guys doing? Go run nine-on-seven, O-Line.'"

* * *

Collins was blindsided again, last offseason, when Danelo's body was discovered at the bottom of a San Pedro cliff. The two had been partners in practice-field levity.

"Mario and I kind of fed off each other," Collins said. "It's hard not having him here."

Collins calls Danelo's parents each Friday before a game. Last night was the final Friday, with USC wrapping up the regular season today against UCLA.

Collins has graduated, with a degree in political science, and is a class away from completing a history minor. Last week, he met with the dean of Loyola law school – where his father and grandfather attended – and plans to spend much of next semester studying for the LSAT.

He wants to give the NFL a shot, too.

"I don't really know how that works," Collins said. "It's like coming out of high school. I never thought I'd play in college. I sure as hell have never even dreamt about the NFL.

"But I'm going to try. Why not?"

Anno said Collins has a chance but must work to enhance his size and consistency.

"I'm in no hurry to get out of here," Collins said. "I've been fortunate. I've been really lucky to experience the things I've experienced, or play in the games I've played in."

With a smile, he quickly corrected himself.

"Or, snap in the games I've snapped in."