Class of 2023 - QB Rickie Collins (LA) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (12/20/24) | Page 30 | Syracusefan.com

Class of 2023 QB Rickie Collins (LA) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (12/20/24)

This is one of my issues with how people view the transfer portal; as a means to always populate your roster with proven commodities. Yes, it’s helpful to jumpstart a coaching tenure and to fill gaping holes. But watching guys come in and develop and grow into the next guy is one of the joys of college football.
For the record the post you quoted was taken out of context. I was saying you can’t be concerned about young QB’s we already have in the program. You have to bring in as many QB’s as possible and make sure you have the best QB for the program. You don’t worry about hurting the feelings of a QB who is in the program but has yet to take a snap or another who hasn’t even taken a step on campus.

The second part of your post will be tough to do in the current CFB landscape. That used to be my favorite part as well, but now guys are more hired guns, especially at QB.
 
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Ive re watched LSU’s spring game. Collins has great arm talent but he needs development.

Just from watching the spring game it looks like he can throw the ball off platform pretty well but he has happy feet in the pocket. He tucks and run after his first read is taken away. Tends to throw off his back foot at times. Didn’t complete his down field throws but was accurate on swings and boundary out routes. Good arm talent and athleticism. He has off script play making potential. All this can improve with coaching and repetition.

If no McCord then we have 3 young talented guys that will battle it out. Could be a transition year. The following year we will have an experienced starter
 
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Ive re watched LSU’s spring game. Collins has great arm talent but he needs development.

Just from watching the spring game it looks like he can throw the ball off platform pretty well but he has happy feet in the pocket. He tucks and run after his first read is taken away. Tends to throw off his back foot at times. Didn’t complete his down field throws but was accuracy on swings and boundary out routes. Good arm talent and athleticism. He has off script play making potential. All this can improve with coaching and repetition.

If no McCord then we have 3 young talented guys that will battle it out. Could be a transition year. The following year we will have an experienced starter
Limited observation, but MJJr and JW don’t throw with anticipation and target has to be open open.

We’ve been spoiled.
 
Ive re watched LSU’s spring game. Collins has great arm talent but he needs development.

Just from watching the spring game it looks like he can throw the ball off platform pretty well but he has happy feet in the pocket. He tucks and run after his first read is taken away. Tends to throw off his back foot at times. Didn’t complete his down field throws but was accuracy on swings and boundary out routes. Good arm talent and athleticism. He has off script play making potential. All this can improve with coaching and repetition.

If no McCord then we have 3 young talented guys that will battle it out. Could be a transition year. The following year we will have an experienced starter
Agreed. Collins is intriguing because of his arm talent, athleticism, and playmaking ability. He has very high upside potential, IMO. The loop/wind-up part of his throwing motion needs to be addressed along with the other things you mentioned.
 
I am excited about this get. High upside. Good enough to compete for starters job if we dont get McCord back. Willing to be mentored if we do get McCord back. How many portal QBs with big upside are willing to show patience?

Fran has added an act to his magic show.

He looks to me like he has a Trevor Lawrence body type. Lets hope he turns out to be the college version of Trevor and not the pro version.
 
Ive re watched LSU’s spring game. Collins has great arm talent but he needs development.

Just from watching the spring game it looks like he can throw the ball off platform pretty well but he has happy feet in the pocket. He tucks and run after his first read is taken away. Tends to throw off his back foot at times. Didn’t complete his down field throws but was accuracy on swings and boundary out routes. Good arm talent and athleticism. He has off script play making potential. All this can improve with coaching and repetition.

If no McCord then we have 3 young talented guys that will battle it out. Could be a transition year. The following year we will have an experienced starter
With McCord back, easily our best QB depth chart since probably the McNabb years.
 
He also won at Penn St., the first SU QB to do that in nearly 20 years. Then beat LSU in a Jan.1 bowl game.
It was a very solid team. My biggest memory of the LSU game was Joe Namath announcing, he wouldn’t shut the hell up about how LSU was going to wear us down. I think he was saying it as we were handed the HOF Bowl trophy. In fairness the poor guy was probably drunk at the time
 
Limited observation, but MJJr and JW don’t throw with anticipation and target has to be open open.

We’ve been spoiled.
yup but Im good with a Kevin Jennings type as well. Just have to coach them up.
 
For the record the post you quoted was taken out of context. I was saying you can’t be concerned about young QB’s we already have in the program. You have to bring in as many QB’s as possible and make sure you have the best QB for the program. You don’t worry about hurting the feelings of a QB who is in the program but has yet to take a snap or another who hasn’t even taken a step on campus.

The second part of your post will be tough to do in the current CFB landscape. That used to be my favorite part as well, but now guys are more hired guns, especially at QB.
I read back through, and I really don't see how my interpretation takes you out of context, especially because you've been talking about wanting a more experienced hand, like Salter, this entire time. But kay sarah sarah.

Also, I put some hard numbers to the "more hired guns" statement. Of the teams in the most recent AP Top 25:

- 12 start a QB they recruited out of high school
- 1 starts a QB from JUCO
- 4 start a QB that transferred in but was not previously a full time starter elsewhere
- 8 (including Syracuse) start a QB that was a full time starter at a previous school

While 8 is not an insignificant number, it is also not an indicator that it's the only path to success in high end college football. (And you can also argue that Ohio St would have been better off keeping the home grown McCord than letting him go and bringing in a 0 WAR Howard.)
 
I read back through, and I really don't see how my interpretation takes you out of context, especially because you've been talking about wanting a more experienced hand, like Salter, this entire time. But kay sarah sarah.

Also, I put some hard numbers to the "more hired guns" statement. Of the teams in the most recent AP Top 25:

- 12 start a QB they recruited out of high school
- 1 starts a QB from JUCO
- 4 start a QB that transferred in but was not previously a full time starter elsewhere
- 8 (including Syracuse) start a QB that was a full time starter at a previous school

While 8 is not an insignificant number, it is also not an indicator that it's the only path to success in high end college football. (And you can also argue that Ohio St would have been better off keeping the home grown McCord than letting him go and bringing in a 0 WAR Howard.)
I know this is a lot of work. Thanks for that analysis.

I'd be curious to see how many of those teams are winning with a first year starter, wherever they came from.

In the NFL, winning with a first year starter is exceedingly rare. College football, with it's much higher level of turnover, seems easier, but still a huge challenge.

Experience at every position matters, but none more than QB. And, of course, it's the most important position in sports.
 
I know this is a lot of work. Thanks for that analysis.

I'd be curious to see how many of those teams are winning with a first year starter, wherever they came from.

In the NFL, winning with a first year starter is exceedingly rare. College football, with it's much higher level of turnover, seems easier, but still a huge challenge.

Experience at every position matters, but none more than QB. And, of course, it's the most important position in sports.
Of the guys in their first year as full time starter anywhere, it's 5. Tennessee, Arizona St, SMU, South Carolina, and Boise. (Although you could argue Maddux at Boise is a total non-factor.)

Of the 8 QBs who had previous significant starting experience at another school, 7 were in their first year at their 2024 school.
 

As a College Recruit
Three-sport signal caller who balls out on the gridiron and track as well as the hardwood. Stands 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with a 9-inch (or slightly smaller) hand. Athletic ability jumps off the tape when rolling out and on designed runs. Has a more elongated delivery, but throws an accurate ball at all levels of the field. Threw for 1,930 yards and 16 touchdowns on 113 completions with a 65% completion percentage during his junior season. Has solid ball ballistics and ability to drive the football. Will need to tighten up his motion in his release. Wins with his escapability and ability to extend plays. Ran an electronically-timed 4.74 40-yard dash and a 4.28 shuttle prior to his senior season. Hit 37.5 inches on the vertical as well during the spring camp circuit prior to his senior season. Jumped a 5-foot-10 high jump and a 21-foot-5 long jump during his junior track and field season. Leaping ability translates to the basketball court when he goes up to throw-it-down on dunks. Has a chance to be an immediate difference maker for a team at the Power 5 level.
Hmm - solid ball ballistics you say?
 
Still nothing on his socials about the commitment, something feels off
IMG_3645.jpeg


And profile (still?) lists the NIL collective for LSU …
 
Yeah based on how these kids usually post, having nothing up about Syracuse now seems pretty intentional. Possibly the earlier Axe hubbub caused some issues? Maybe Collins is hearing McCord is a go and doesn't want to be a backup again? Just spitballing here. I think Bnoro is right, something is off though.
Pondering Season 9 GIF by The Office
 
I can’t recall seeing anything official from the school announcing it but maybe I just missed it.
 
I read back through, and I really don't see how my interpretation takes you out of context, especially because you've been talking about wanting a more experienced hand, like Salter, this entire time. But kay sarah sarah.

Also, I put some hard numbers to the "more hired guns" statement. Of the teams in the most recent AP Top 25:

- 12 start a QB they recruited out of high school
- 1 starts a QB from JUCO
- 4 start a QB that transferred in but was not previously a full time starter elsewhere
- 8 (including Syracuse) start a QB that was a full time starter at a previous school

While 8 is not an insignificant number, it is also not an indicator that it's the only path to success in high end college football. (And you can also argue that Ohio St would have been better off keeping the home grown McCord than letting him go and bringing in a 0 WAR Howard.)
Haven’t been talking about Collins since the night of the fake commitment. I specifically mention JW and MJ. But for the record i do still think we’ll be in for a rough year if McCord doesn’t come back .
 
Bump. So did this happen or ???

The LSU kid is probably waiting for the decision on McCord's extra year of eligibility.
That would seem the most obvious reading of it to me.
 

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