Matt Collison built his public profile through a four-year career at Johns Hopkins before moving into professional lacrosse in 2026. The Canadian midfielder finished his college career with 147 points and earned major national and Big Ten honors. He was later selected in both the Premier Lacrosse League and National Lacrosse League drafts.
His path is also closely connected to Canadian box lacrosse. He began playing through Toronto Beaches at around age five, later focused fully on lacrosse after leaving hockey in Grade 9, and carried that background into his development at Johns Hopkins. By October 2026, he had established professional opportunities in both field and box lacrosse.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Scarborough, Ontario |
| College | Johns Hopkins University |
| Position at Johns Hopkins | Midfielder |
| College degree | Political science |
| Career points at Johns Hopkins | 147 |
| Major college honor | Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year |
| PLL team | Philadelphia Waterdogs |
| NLL draft team | Vancouver Warriors |
How His Canadian Lacrosse Background Shaped His Development
Collison grew up in Canada and began playing lacrosse around age five. In a direct interview with PressBox, he explained that Brad Watters and childhood friend Mark Watters introduced him to the sport, which led him to start playing with Toronto Beaches.
Lacrosse was not his only sport growing up. He also played hockey before deciding in Grade 9 to stop and concentrate on lacrosse. He later developed with both Toronto Beaches and Edge Lacrosse.
That Canadian background gave him box lacrosse experience before he became known nationally through the NCAA field game. His connection to Toronto Beaches continued into his junior years, making his later move toward the NLL part of an existing box-lacrosse path rather than a completely new direction.
Why Johns Hopkins Became the Right College Fit
Collison played at Johns Hopkins from 2023 through 2026. He has said directly that Hopkins had been his dream school, but his decision involved more than the program’s reputation.
He considered the people around the team and the opportunities the university could provide beyond lacrosse. He also said he did not want his choice to be based only on being recruited by Canadian lacrosse figure John Grant Jr.
Academically, Collison completed a political science degree in May 2026. Johns Hopkins also recorded him as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
His own recruiting experience later shaped the advice he gave younger players. He advised young recruits to take their time, resist outside pressure, and weigh the people, school environment, and lacrosse program before deciding.
How He Became One of Johns Hopkins’ Top Midfield Scorers
Collison developed into one of the most productive midfield scorers in Johns Hopkins history. He finished his college career with 100 goals, 47 assists, and 147 points.
Those totals placed him third in career points and tied for second in goals among Hopkins players who primarily played midfield. In his senior season, he scored 30 goals, added 16 assists, and totaled 46 points.
His national recognition extended across all four years of his college career. In 2026, he became the 20th Johns Hopkins player to earn USILA All-America recognition four times and the first to reach that mark since Paul Rabil.
The final career numbers matter because earlier reports in the 2026 season listed lower totals while games were still being played. Johns Hopkins’ completed career record shows a final total of 147 points.
What Defined His Final College Season
The 2026 season brought Collison some of his most significant individual recognition. Big Ten coaches named him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, making him the first Johns Hopkins player to win the award since it was introduced in 2015.
He was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team and received First-Team All-America recognition from USILA, USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse.
His season also earned him a spot among the 25 nominees for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award. Johns Hopkins reported that only two midfielders were included in that group.
Despite the individual honors, Collison described his postseason approach in team-focused terms. In an April 2026 interview, he said Hopkins was trying to concentrate on the immediate practice or game rather than looking too far ahead.
How His Game and Approach Changed at Johns Hopkins
Collison has spoken directly about the difference between the player he was before college and the one he became at Hopkins.
He said talent and skill had carried much of his high-school game, while college forced him to work harder, play smarter, and expand what he could do. He specifically pointed to daily discipline, attention to detail, and a consistent urgency to improve.
That development also affected how he approached offense. Collison said he learned not to force opportunities and instead to work within Johns Hopkins’ system. He credited coaches and teammates with trusting him early enough to contribute as a freshman.
When discussing how he wanted to be remembered at Hopkins, he placed less emphasis on his statistics. He said he hoped teammates would remember him for being supportive and doing things the right way rather than simply for his point totals.
He has also spoken about priorities beyond competition, saying he wanted to work hard for his family, maintain close relationships with teammates, and live a grateful and happy life.
His Move Into Professional Field Lacrosse
The Philadelphia Waterdogs selected Collison in the second round of the 2026 PLL College Draft, taking him 13th overall on April 14.
His professional opportunity quickly became more than a draft-line entry. Official PLL statistics credit him with 15 scoring points during the 2026 season, including five one-point goals, four two-point goals, and two assists.
The four two-point goals were particularly notable within Philadelphia’s season totals, as the Waterdogs listed him as their leader in that category.
Before beginning that stage of his career, Collison said he was willing to take on whatever role Philadelphia required. That approach matched the team-oriented style he described during his time at Johns Hopkins.
Why the NLL Draft Added Another Professional Path
Collison gained a second professional route on September 24, 2026, when the Vancouver Warriors selected him third overall in the NLL Entry Draft.
The NLL listed him as a left-offense player, while Johns Hopkins and field-lacrosse records identify him primarily as a midfielder. The difference stems from the distinct positional structures in box and field lacrosse, not conflicting information about his career.
Vancouver’s selection also connected directly with the Canadian box-lacrosse background that preceded his NCAA years. His experience with Toronto Beaches meant that the box game was already part of his development long before he became a professional draft prospect.
As of October 6, 2026, Vancouver had drafted Collison, but an NLL regular-season appearance remained unconfirmed. His 2026 professional picture therefore consisted of completed PLL participation with Philadelphia alongside a newly opened NLL path through Vancouver.