Mack Hollins is a barefoot NFL Tarzan and the Buffalo Bills love him

Mack Hollins signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills . Fans hope he'll take his shoes off and stay awhile.

He's gotten off on the right foot.

Hollins walks on the field − and virtually everywhere else he goes − barefoot at training camp. His cutoff fringe shirt and long curly locks flap in the wind. He eats with his hands , not utensils.

Hollins is an NFL Tarzan.

The free-spirited veteran wide receiver arrives early to work, stays late for autographs , and is quickly becoming a Bills Mafia favorite .

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady loves him, too, and has been inspired to give his feet some fresh air.

"One of my favorite players. Honestly, one of my favorite people I’ve ever met," Brady said. "Becoming more grounded because of him. I started walking around barefoot yesterday. You look around there’s 10 other guys barefoot. That kind of speaks to who he is. Guys want to follow him."

It's not a schtick. Hollins, 30, has been on his toes his entire career.

Hollins went from walk-on at North Carolina to the school's career leader in yards per reception (20.6). The 6-foot-4, 221-pounder was a fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 and cemented a roster spot through special teams. Hollins is a Super Bowl champion who is accustomed to the anxiety of roster cutdown day but has grinded into his seventh NFL seasons.

“He’s the first one up here yesterday. He was here before the strength coach, he was out here working, dripping in sweat, it’s 5 a.m.," Brady said. "After practice you guys see he just doesn’t want to stop. So much energy. I love his style of play, the way that he plays, but his personality, man, it’s so fun. We really embrace that here in Buffalo. We want guys to be themselves.”

Being himself has earned Hollins praise from his teammates as a vocal leader. Even though he was a backup, Hollins was voted by Miami Dolphins players as a team captain for the 2021 season. In 2022, he had a career year with the Las Vegas Raiders with 57 catches for 690 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Hollins' Instagram centers around challenges for his followers, through exercise, learning and doing good. He loves reading and chess, making the ceremonial first move in an International Chess Federation tournament in Toronto in April. Hollins tries to learn a new skill every year, already checking bicycle racing − he prefers to cycle or run to practice − and scuba diving off the list.

“I hope the city of Buffalo enjoys him walking out in the snow barefoot," Brady said. "I don’t know if that’s going to be a good idea. He hasn’t really had to experience that yet.

"Mack Hollins is going to be a stud for us both on the field and off.”

Buffalo Bills news from training camp

Be sure to return to democratandchronicle.com for daily updates throughout the Buffalo Bills training camp. You can also sign up for Bills Blast, Sal Maiorana's newsletter which will follow the Bills action all season long. Here are stories from camp:

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mack Hollins is a barefoot NFL Tarzan and the Buffalo Bills love him