A one-time LSU quarterback has locked down the starting job at an FBS program and will lead the offense when the season begins next month.
Kennesaw State selected Rickie Collins as its starter for the opener against West Georgia on Sept. 3, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“Sources: Kennesaw State has named LSU/Syracuse transfer Rickie Collins the starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for the Owls against West Georgia on Sept. 3. He’ll start for a Kennesaw team that won C-USA in Jerry Mack’s first season and led C-USA in scoring in league play,” Thamel wrote.
The 6-foot-2, 222-pound junior brings experience from two previous stops. He spent his first two college seasons in Baton Rouge before transferring to Syracuse for the 2025 campaign.
At Syracuse, Collins appeared in seven games, more than the four contests he played during his entire time with the Tigers. He threw for 1,042 yards, six touchdowns and 10 interceptions in what proved to be an up-and-down year for the Orange.
Over his full college career, Collins has accumulated 1,080 passing yards and posted a 103.5 passer rating. Those numbers reflect limited opportunities early on and a larger role last fall.
In the transfer portal, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 132 quarterback available. The Baton Rouge native arrived at Kennesaw State looking for a clearer path to the field after bouncing between programs.
Back in high school, Collins earned district MVP honors as a junior. That season he passed for 1,930 yards and 16 touchdowns, showing the arm talent that later drew attention from Power conference schools.
Kennesaw State enters the fall coming off a strong 10-4 record. The Owls captured the Conference USA title in Jerry Mack’s first season as head coach.
That championship marked the program’s first winning campaign since an 11-2 finish under former coach Brian Bohannon. That earlier success came in the final year of Big South membership before the move up.
Mack’s squad led Conference USA in scoring during league play last season. The offense produced consistent results and helped the team secure the conference crown.
Collins will step into a system that already showed it can put points on the board. His dual-threat ability and previous starts could fit well with the scheme the coaching staff prefers.
The season opener against West Georgia is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern and will be available on ESPN+. Fans in the Atlanta area and beyond will get their first look at the new starter that night.
For Collins, the move represents another chance to prove himself as a full-time starter. After limited snaps at LSU and a mixed bag of results at Syracuse, the Kennesaw State job offers steady opportunity.
The Owls hope the junior can help them build on last year’s momentum. Winning Conference USA once already raised expectations for a program still establishing itself at the FBS level.
Collins’ high school production and physical tools give him a foundation to work from. Now the focus shifts to how quickly he can master the playbook and lead the offense in September.
Kennesaw State’s recent success under Mack creates a favorable environment for a transfer quarterback. The coaching staff has shown it can develop talent and compete for titles in a competitive conference.
As practice continues and the opener approaches, Collins will work to build chemistry with his new receivers and running backs. The early returns from the coaching staff indicate confidence in his readiness.
West Georgia will provide the first test. The visiting team arrives looking to spoil the home debut of the new starter and the defending conference champions.
For now, the announcement settles the quarterback question at Kennesaw State. Collins has the job, the date is set, and the season is only weeks away.
