LSU Football Transfer, Syracuse Orange Quarterback Rickie Collins Loses Starting Job

Former LSU quarterback Rickie Collins elected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal last December in search of a new home after two seasons in Baton Rouge.

The redshirt-freshman appeared in three games with the LSU Tigers during the 2024 season where he tallied 35 total yards on five passing attempts. He also logged 18 yards on four carries.

In 2023, Collins appeared in only one game during his true freshman campaign where he completed both of his passing attempts for 19 yards.

Collins utilized 2023 as a redshirt year during his first season with the LSU program.

The Louisiana native was a four-star prospect out of high school after lighting it up at Baton Rouge (La.) Woodlawn High. Collins was a Top 20 quarterback in America.

During his recruiting process, Collins was originally committed to the Purdue Boilermakers before flipping his pledge to the LSU Tigers prior to his senior campaign.

LSU Tigers Football. — Nov 25, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and quarterback Rickie Collins (10) during warmups before the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

In 2023, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels discussed his relationship with Collins and his future ahead:

“Rickie Collins? I treat him like my little brother,” Daniels said. “Just seeing him be able to grow day in and day out. Coming in as a true freshman.

"Trying to just learn how to live on his own, even though he’s from Baton Rouge, but it’s different living on your own. Just how to maneuver and how to treat things professionally? (It’s) how tight we are.”

As for head coach Brian Kelly, he highlighted the development ahead for Collins:

“Rickie’s got to continue to develop because kind of what you said, when you only have three quarterbacks on scholarship, that third quarterback is so crucial for you in its development,” Kelly said.

“I’d say that I’m really pleased with the development of Daniels and Nussmeier and Rickie is kind of — we’re really pushing him hard to continue his trajectory because when you have just three, he’s in the mix, right?”

Sources: Syracuse has named Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli the starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for the Orange against No. 24 Tennessee in the opener in Atlanta. Angeli, a redshirt junior, narrowly beat out LSU transfer Rickie Collins, who played well during camp. pic.twitter.com/ax2mgUOEkm
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 18, 2025

During Spring Camp, Collins won the starting quarterback job for the Syracuse Orange, but the coaching staff still made the decision to add Notre Dame Fighting Irish signal-caller Steve Angeli.

Collins and Angeli were in a fierce quarterback battle across Fall Camp with the ex-Notre Dame signal-caller now beating out Collins for first-team duties.

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