Alex Collins football signing drama: What's next?

(CBS News) If you've ever thought your mom was overprotective, imagine what Alex Collins must be thinking.

He's a nationally ranked high school football star who just signed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. But only after tackling what may be his biggest opponent: his mom.

Every college coach in the country will tell you the same thing: you want to recruit a high school football star, then win over his mom. The drama playing out right now in college football is a very public example of what happens when you don't.

In the world of college football, it might be the most important day of the year, National Signing Day, when most high school players in the country sign the scholarship offer to play football at one of the many colleges recruiting them. It's a day full of drama, with a national TV audience tuned in to watch the announcements that could make or break a program.

But this year, one of the country's best players, Collins, missed out on signing his papers and celebrating his scholarship. Collins is a highly coveted running back at South Plantation High School near Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"My mom thought I should wait. It wasn't her necessarily grabbing the papers and running outside. It was more of her, protecting me, making sure I want to go to that school for the next four years of my life," Collins said.

The drama began on Monday when Collins surprised everybody, including family and friends, by saying he wanted to pass over the University of Miami, choosing instead the University of Arkansas.

Under National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, a parent or legal guardian must sign the binding letter of intent for any athlete under the age of 21. But two days later on Signing Day, his mother, Andrea McDonald, refused to sign the papers -- instead, she ran off with them.

On Wednesday night, Collins called his father who hadn't always been present raising him. On Thursday, Collins brought his father to a press conference to sign the letter of intent. Collins became an Arkansas Razorback. Collins said, "I have a good relationship with my mom. She has always been to every football game, she has never missed a football game, and I appreciate her for that."

But his mother wasn't done. She hired a lawyer from Johnny Cochran's old law firm, who said: "Ms. McDonald hopes all NCAA rules and regulations were followed during today's signing. She is not seeking any personal financial gain because her only concern is for Alex's happiness and well being."

At the press conference in which Collins signed, Collins said he has spoken with his mother and said she isn't against him attending Arkansas, she just wanted to buy him some more time before signing so he didn't make the wrong decision.