Austin Collie has had a solid rookie season after an outstanding collegiate career at BYU.

A fourth-round choice of the Colts, Collie caught 60 balls from Peyton Manning during the regular season, good for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. In two playoff games against the Ravens and the Jets, Collie has 11 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

The Colts posted the best record in the NFL during the regular season with a 14-2 record.

“It’s been fun to watch,” Collie’s former coach at Oak Ridge, Chris Jones said, who’s now coaching at Vista del Lago. “More than anything else, it’s been neat to see his hard work and dedication pay off. It’s been almost like a storybook season to a certain degree in terms of playing with maybe the greatest quarterback of all time to playing a vital role on the team throughout the season and the playoffs.”

Patrick Gallagher, owner of Pure Athletics in El Dorado Hills, who used to train Collie, is thrilled for his former client.

“Austin’s success is a testament to hard work and I’m extremely proud of him,” Gallagher said. “He possesses drive, focus and persistence, all the hidden values of a great athlete. What I enjoyed seeing when I worked with him more than his athletic ability was his attention to detail. It’s a great thing (him playing in the Super Bowl) for the El Dorado Hills community and the Sacramento area.”