Ultimately I think you prefer to give QB's more than 2 games, that said I don't think Collins is good QB1 material and I have never seen it. His HS highlights were nothing spectacular, although there wasn't much to watch. his HS stats were not all that impressive. We had never seen him play in a spring game. I haven't been impressed with his interviews. Doesn't come across as a confident, I'm in charge, do whatever it takes leader to me that would bring confidence to a team. The Teams recent play seems to reflect that. He seems to not go through progressions and locks on to one receiver. Additionally I don't think he has good timing with the offense. That seems to be a lot of what the Nixon passing game is and I see none of that with Rickie. The only think really giving me hope with him before the year was that he was an Elite 11 finalist and that Fran and Co originally named him starter and said he was neck and neck with Angeli up to the end. Pretty sure he was named starter because we had little else at that time. And Carney had just gotten there. You'd prefer to give a QB like Rickie more time to prove it than 3 games, but really he doesn't show the ability to command an offense. I think the staff hoped and though Collins would do a bit better than he's doing. But its hard to know for sure until you throw a kid into actual live game setting. Carney was just a true frosh learning the offense and trying to build confidence as a young man. The things Collins doesn't have are more apparent in a live game setting. There is still some chance he could be somewhat adequate but i don't think his celling is very high. I think i'd be willing to pull the plug now assuming they think highly of Carney. But if Rickie doesn't show it after Pitt you almost surely have to go to Carney, else you risk losing the team. When the team has no faith they can win with a player everyone loses motivation. You can't go that may games in a season looking inept. That weighs on the current team, and recruits. If you wait until there are only 3 more regular season games to preserve a Carney redshirt, while looking inept, that is not a good look with the current team.
Carney on the other hand, i've been very excited for, despite him not getting offers from the big boys in TX. From all of the staff interviews and handling of questions, i'm positive Carney is next man up. Somehow he was somewhat under the radar, which seems to be just because he was at a private school in TX. Did he not go to camps? I mean he has adequate height, a solid build, and is a hell of athlete that put up a lot of rushing yards as well. He put up ridiculous numbers for 4 years in HS and is a proven winner as a 4 time state champion leading QB for private schools. His HS highlights look great to me. His arm is strong enough and he looks to have the skills that Nixon's offense values, command of an offense, goes through his progressions and has nice timing and accuracy. Just because they staff didn't have him as next man up to start his true freshman season, doesn't mean this kid doesn't have what it takes. The plan was never to play him this season. But I think things have changed. I think he gets the start either against Pitt or the game after against GT. I wanted to preserve his redshirt this year as I think it makes it the most likely he remains at SU.
I don't know what him or his camp wants. All kids want to play but I woudn't be surprised if they prefer him to redshirt this season knowing it is what is best. But situations change. He has been here a bit longer now and he can play 6 more games or possibly 7 if he performs well enough. If he's somewhat solid, we could win 3 more regular season games. Expecting more than that with a true freshman leading the charge is probably pushing it. But wins over UNC, BC and possibly Pitt is doable. But it is possible he is only a tad more productive than Collins considering he is so young.
As far as i can tell Steve Angeli can't get a medical redshirt as you have to have played in less than 30% of their schedule games. Assuming scheduled means regular season. 30% of 12 is 3.8 games. He has played 4 games. So If Carney steps in and does well for the rest of 2025, Angeli and Carney can fight it out for the starting role next year. Then if Carney gets beat out as the 2026 starter, he uses a redshirt year.