It’s that time of year. Where local papers all over the country select players of the year. Like say in Rochester, NY where the 2006 POY stays in the Collier family for another year.

Good call, coaches. Even Kevin Collier himself agrees, after Churchville-Chili junior Averin Collier was selected as the 2006 Democrat and Chronicle AGR Player of the Year based on ballots from area high school coaches.

The honor stays in the family. Kevin Collier was the 2005 AGR Player of the Year.

“I’m happy for him,” said Kevin Collier, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. “He’s earned it, he didn’t get it handed to him. The level that he’s at now, we’re expecting even greater things from him. That’s not just family members, but everyone.”

And now the recruiting of Averin really begins.

Collier has scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut, Virginia, Louisville, Temple and Buffalo. Coaches at those eight schools can envision Collier playing one of four positions: running back, linebacker, cornerback and receiver.

“(Pittsburgh assistant) David Walker said, ‘We’ll offer him at kicker if he wants to play kicker,'” Dick said. “The funny thing is, some schools send two letters in a day.

“It’s really going to heat up again after the college coaches finish with all of their stuff and take the time to see what they need.”

Collier said he was “wide-open” about which school he would commit to. Most college coaches can find a position for a player with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash who can squat 400 pounds six times.

Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Michigan and Penn State can expect Collier during each of their “Junior Day” visits.

“I’ll make my choice before Christmas, around this time of year,” said Collier, who cannot sign a binding letter of intent until February 2008. “I don’t know if anyone can get an edge.”

Kevin has said that he would not pressure his younger brother to join him at Pitt. If Averin Collier does become a Pitt Panther, it would not be the first time he followed Kevin.

Locally, in the Pittsburgh area, it was no shock that Terrelle Pryor was the POY. Just like it isn’t clear which sport Pryor will play, it isn’t clear where he’ll be heading next year. He is looking to play both sports, but who knows. With the success of Vince Young and Troy Smith, he is really thinking about football and playing QB. The one thing, is that it is a safe bet that he will go to a school where the football and basketball coaches at least agree to give him the choice to play both.