LSU Football transfer named starting QB in the ACC

One of the LSU Football program’s former quarterbacks has earned the starting nod at an ACC school ahead of the 2025 season this fall.

With Spring Practice winding down at Syracuse, head coach Fran Brown announced former LSU quarterback Rickie Collins – who transferred to the Orange this offseason – has won the starting quarterback job.

Collins spent two seasons at LSU before choosing to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal following the 2024 season. During his two years in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana native played a backup role, attempting just seven passes with four completions for 37 yards.

Collins played high school at Woodlawn in Baton Rouge as a 4-star prospect, and he was the No. 234 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Now, Collins will take over for former Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, who exploded for an NCAA-best 4,779 passing yards and 34 touchdowns this past season.

While Collins doesn’t have the experience McCord brought to the field a year ago, the Syracuse staff is confident in his abilities to lead the program through ACC play this season.

“He seems to be moving into (being) the leader of our football team,” Brown said. “I’m liking what I’m seeing. I think the players are behind him, everyone’s behind him. So, it seems like he’s going to be our quarterback.

“Learning how to lead, he’s still doing it. This will be his first time. But he’s watched some really good players. He had two guys in front of him at LSU that I think did a good job, he’s been here through the bowl game prep and had a chance to watch Kyle.”

Syracuse opens the 2025 season with a trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers.