Hip surgery in June. Medical clearance in September. Six goals and an assist across six games since. Tyler Collins hasn't just returned for Goodrich — he's made the whole summer of uncertainty look like a non-issue.
The junior midfielder was cleared to play the Tuesday after Labor Day, joining the Martians just in time for their Sept. 9 clash with Lake Fenton. Goodrich were trailing 1-0 in the second half when Collins, in his season debut, found the equalizer. That's one way to announce yourself back.
What Collins actually brings
The goals are the headline, but coach Evan Huizenga is pointing at something harder to quantify. "His biggest strength as a player is that he has the ability to rally his teammates," Huizenga said. "His work ethic, his confidence on the field and his vision to see the field."
That tracks with the numbers. Goodrich have gone 4-2 in the six matches since Collins returned. Before that, the Martians were navigating an injury-hit season at 2-3-1. He hasn't just added goals — he's shifted the team's ceiling.
Huizenga put it plainly: "When you add in a player with high IQ for the sport, the overall ability level of the team rises." That's not flattery. A 4-2 run in a league this competitive is evidence enough.
The title race still has ground to make up
Goodrich sit at 6-5-1 overall and 3-2 in the Flint Metro League. Flushing lead the table at 5-0. That's a gap, but there's football left to play, and a side that can go 4-2 with a returning star in form is not one to write off.
Collins earned Flint-area Athlete of the Week with 7,005 votes, edging Grand Blanc's Ashton Brown by roughly 1,400. The recognition is deserved, but the more relevant reward would be dragging Goodrich into contention before the season closes out.
"We were unsure if we would see him this season," Huizenga admitted. Six goals later, that feels like a distant memory.
