Here's what almost every sports fan in the country knows about former LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins: The 21-year-old has been questioned by police in Louisiana regarding the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Brittney Mills.

Most of us also know that Collins hasn't been implicated or called a suspect in the death of Mills or her child, who died one week after the mother was fatally shot.

Those following the unreal story are also probably aware of the fact a paternity test indicates Collins wasn't the father of the child Mills was carrying when shot and that Collins reportedly passed a polygraph test in connection with the case, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson.

You probably know that Collins was projected by many to be a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. But with NFL teams unwilling to take on the risk and/or backlash associated with selecting him, Collins went undrafted.

And if you've been keeping up with the news today, you're aware that the Dallas Cowboys have signed Collins to a fully guaranteed three-year, $1.7 million contract, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. 

What a lot of laymen don't know is who Collins is beyond this unprecedented and unfortunate set of circumstances. What made him the type of player and man who was ranked 21st on Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller's final big board? How did he get to a point where NFL Network's Mike Mayock suggested he could be picked 18th?

Here's what made La'el Collins special on the field before he became a special case off of it:

1. He's a mauler with potential in multiple spots

Collins was the starting left guard for the Tigers as a sophomore in 2012 before kicking outside to play left tackle in 2013 and 2014. He's a mean run-blocker who dominated up front within a run-first offense as a senior, and he also ranked tied for first in College Football Focus' pass-blocking efficiency metric.

That might make him an ideal right tackle at the next level. 

2. He's durable

Collins missed just one game due to injury during his three full seasons as a starter at LSU. The 6'4", 305-pounder led LSU in snaps (843) and knockdowns (88) while earning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the SEC in 2014. He also led the team in both total snaps (836) and knockdowns (64.5) as a sophomore in 2012. He played every offensive snap in nine of LSU’s 13 games as a senior.

3. He also has the size to play inside or outside

And it appears Collins can control that based on where he's put and which offense he plays in. He weighed in at 305 at the NFL Scouting Combine in February before registering at 320 at his pro day a month later. 

4. But he can move

“I’ve been around the program and I know him personally," former NFL offensive lineman Kevin Mawae said in March, per the National Football Post's Aaron Wilson. "He’s a big guy and he moves well for his size. He’s big and thick through the upper body and moves really well for a really big guy. Everybody thinks he’ll be a high first-rounder with the kind of athlete he is."

5. He was a team captain at LSU

And as far as we can tell, Collins has never had a brush with the law. This was the first time his name was attached to a negative report, and it's important to remember that Collins hasn't been called a person of interest, let alone a suspect, in Mills' death. 

LSU head coach Les Miles defended Collins publicly this week to The Advocate's Ross Dellenger. Miles praising the lineman's leadership, noting that he called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Collins' behalf. Miles was hoping to get Collins into the supplemental draft. 

“I called him and I was told, ‘It’s damn near impossible for me to get through,'” Miles said, per Dellender. 

The only misstep we could find from Collins was this borderline cheap shot against USC in 2012: 

6. He's been compared to Maurkice Pouncey

"He has the same type of body as Maurkice Pouncey and plays tough like Pouncey, too," an AFC offensive line coach told NFL.com in January. "I like him so far the best." 

Pouncey is also 6'4", 305 pounds, but he, of course, plays inside. That jives with the notion—floated by Draft Insider's Tony Pauline, among others—that Collins might be better suited playing guard. 

7. But he models himself after Eagles All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters

Collins said last July during the SEC media days, via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com:

There are a lot of great offensive tackles in the league. I like to try to pattern my game off of Jason Peters. I love him. He's a physical beast, man, and I like guys like that. I like (Redskins tackle) Trent Williams, (Seahawks tackle) Russell Okung, great athletic, big tackles who are strong and physical. Those are the kinds of guys I try to take something from.

8. He was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school in Baton Rouge

In fact, according to LSU's website, Collins "was called by many as arguably the best offensive lineman to ever come out of Louisiana." Scout.com ranked him as the second-best offensive tackle in the country coming into college. 

9. He adjusts fast

Collins was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after making his very first start at left tackle as a junior in 2013. That day, against a strong TCU team, Collins helped the Tigers pick up 448 yards of total offense despite not having star running back Jeremy Hill. Later that season, he helped Hill put together a 216-yard day against Iowa in the Outback Bowl. 

10. He finished school

Teammates Hill, Alfred Blue, Odell Beckham Jr. and Trai Turner declared for the draft as underclassmen in 2014, but Collins decided to stick around for what turned out to be a money senior season. With a younger offense in 2014, he earned second-team All-America honors as the Tigers averaged their highest rushing yards per game total since 1997. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon