Success can be defined in many ways. Moral victories are often taken as the poor man's excuse for his accomplishment while tangible wins create an aura of excellence which can follow a player, coach and franchise forever.

The newest Tiger-Cat signee comes from what is undoubtedly a winning culture, and is hoping to bring that mystique to Hamilton in order to push the back-to-back Grey Cup runners-up to the city's first championship of the new millennium.

Jasper Collins attended the University of Mount Union. Unfamiliar with the school mascot and colours? Allow me to help. Mount Union plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference and their major rival is the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; a team they have battled with in the Division III NCAA championship game nine of the last 10 years.

Still never heard of them? No surprise. Mount Union doesn't often come to mind like the University of Miami's 'The U' or the University of Michigan's 'Big Blue' as the most dominant player-producing teams in American collegiate football.



In reality, the Purple Raiders of Alliance, Ohio might be the best football program you've never heard of, and Collins wants to bring their winning culture North.

The Mount Union Purple Raiders have appeared in a record 18 NCAA Division III championship games since 1993 with Jasper Collins appearing in four straight games from 2009-2012.

While leading the Raiders in catches and receiving yards multiple times through his university career, Collins rubbed shoulders with Cecil Shorts III and NFL veteran Pierre Garcon, both of whom are Mount Union alumni.

After being added late to the 2015 Tiger-Cats training camp - presumably due to an injured Luke Tasker - Collins is now playing catch-up in his first experience with a Canadian Football League playbook.

"I got here late, but all I can do is control what I can control and that's effort," said Collins.

Playing catch-up isn't new to Collins who, after being shuffled around the National Football League for two seasons, found himself playing for the Boston Brawlers of the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL).

Despite the FXFL's minimal exposure due to the league's natural conflict of attempting to gain a slice of the NFL pie with a fall football league, Collins does not regret his experience in the developmental league or the teammates he played with in Boston.

"Both [the CFL and FXFL] are great leagues. The CFL is more established but they both offer great opportunities. All the conversations in Boston were positive, everyone was there for a reason, it's a lot of guys goals and aspirations to play at a high level, whether that is CFL or NFL but we just wanted to get better each day."

By continuing his playing career regardless of the league structure or opposition, Jasper Collins caught the eye of Tiger-Cat scouts and head coach Kent Austin. They thought enough of his game to bring Collins to Hamilton ahead of the Ticats preseason finale in Winnipeg.

Coming to Hamilton has been a smooth process through three days according to the well spoken, energetic Collins. The native of Geneva, New York hopes to make the team in order for his family to be able to make the three-hour drive north of the border to watch him play.

If Collins truly wishes to make the Tiger-Cats roster, he will have to add more than just a couple of catches. His kick and punt returning abilities consistently set him apart in Division III football, including a school record long 85-yard punt return touchdown. The 5'10", 185 pound slotback joins national and international CFL return men with his excitement regarding the league's adventurous open field return game.

"Its definitely different here. I didn't know about the five-yard rule. I was out there the first day trying to fair catch punts and the coaching staff had to explain everything new to me. You have the chance to catch everything and being able to get the ball in a playmakers hands on every punt, that's a great thing. I'm looking forward to having a chance to make some plays."

The ingredients for success are present in a Collins-Hamilton marriage. An open roster spot, an easily adaptable game and a positive attitude with limitless self belief. Just being here won't be good enough, though.

This Tiger-Cats roster is one of high standards and expectations, regardless of depth charts or Canadian football experience. Could a bright-eyed rookie who has experienced all kinds of team success at the collegiate level possibly help get Hamilton's marquee professional team over the hump to its first Grey Cup in over a decade? Collins certainly believes so.

"I was at Mount Union for four years and won my conference four times, attended four national championships. When you win, the winning tag helps you because it means you come from winning but you only learn how to win by playing together."

The 23-year-old hopes to play together a lot with an established group of Ticats who he respects deeply. "The guys here are great, they know what they're doing and prepare so well but I feel I can be of some help and encouragement here now or later in the season, whatever it may be helping us stay focused on what matters towards the end of a season."

Collins' experience in the stretch run of seasons is an asset for a team looking to complete the unfinished business of 2013 and 2014. However, besides the great amount of success he experienced at Mount Union, his recent championship game past may actually add the most insight to his understanding of his new organization and teammates.

Despite maintaining the winning history of Mount Union football, Collins actually lost three straight NCAA national championship games from 2009-2011, a theme which all Tiger-Cats followers can identify with.

While Collins admits buzzwords like winner are sometimes overused, he does not shy away from wanting to help Hamilton win a championship. Both he and this team have a long way to go until that dream is realized, but a hungry athlete is a dangerous athlete and Jasper Collins is starving for success.

Marshall Ferguson, a former McMaster quarterback, covers the Tiger-Cats for Classic Hits 1150 CKOC in Hamilton - the future home of TSN Radio 1150. His CFL blogs and podcasts can be read and heard weekly on TSN.ca.