Reggie Collier

Reginald C. Collier (born May 14, 1961 in Biloxi, Mississippi) is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.

Early years

Collier’s grandparents, didn't allow him to play football until his junior year in D'Iberville High School, becoming a starter at quarterback before breaking his collarbone after playing in three games (all of them wins). The next year, he guided his team to a perfect 13-0 record.

College career

He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Southern Mississippi under head coach Bobby Collins who was using the veer offense and promised him that he could play quarterback.

His junior year in 1981 was one for the ages, when he became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He also accomplished several noteworthy victories in school history, against Mississippi State University, Florida State University and tying the University of Alabama 13-13 at Legion Field in Birmingham, when he led the offense down the field for a dramatic game-tying field goal. He finished with a 9-1-1 record of and was ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

As a senior Collins left and Jim Carmody took over the head coaching responsibilities. He changed the offense and the team struggled with a record of 7-4. Still the team had a 38-29 historic win against Alabama, ending their 57-game winning streak at Bryant–Denny Stadium. Collier finished his college career with 3,362 passing yards, 2,302 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

In 2000, he was inducted into the USM Athletic Hall of Fame and was selected along with Brett Favre, to the Southern Miss Team of the Century.^[1] In 2008, his collegiate No. 10 Jersey was retired by Southern Miss and became one of three players in school history to have been given this honor.^[1] He also was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Birmingham Stallions

Collier was selected by the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in the first round (third overall) of the 1983 USFL Collegiate draft.^[2] He injured his hip in the season opener and started being platooned with Bob Lane.^[3] He suffered a season ending knee injury in the tenth game, after registering 5 starts, 604 passing yards, one touchdown, 253 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.^[4] It was later known that after being separated from the team, he started drinking and using drugs.

On January 12, 1984, the team signed quarterback Cliff Stoudt and traded Collier to the Washington Federals in exchange for a number one draft choice and the rights to center Joel Hilgenberg.

Washington Federals

In 1984, he was being platooned with Mike Hohensee during the pre-season, until he was relegated to the backup position after the opening game of the season.^[5] In 1985, the team moved to Orlando and was renamed as the Renegades. Lee Corso took over as the head coach and named Collier the starter at quarterback. He finished the season with 2,578 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, 16 interception, 606 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

In his USFL career, he recorded 4,151 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 35 interceptions, 1,033 rushing yards. He also had a rushing game of 171 yards, which is the highest rushing total in league history for a quarterback in a game.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, suspecting that the USFL was not going to last, acquired Collier's NFL rights by selecting him in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. In 1986, after the league folded, he signed a four-year deal with the Cowboys, which was a transaction that was overshadowed by the signing of running back Herschel Walker.^[6]

At the time although he was considered as a "raw" player, he was also seen as the prototype of the future NFL quarterback. In pre-season he was productive in his appearances, but could not move out of the third-string quarterback role.

The team accommodated Collier expecting that he could develop and refine his skills, but he never practiced or studied hard enough.^[7] Eventually his substance abuse problem came to light.

On November 23, with a score of 7-41 against the Washington Redskins, Collier was sent in the fourth quarter with 8 minutes to play, helped the offense score 7 points and ran out of time while looking for a possible second touchdown.^[8] He was given the opportunity to start in the last game of the season against the defending Super Bowl Champions the Chicago Bears, but he had four turnovers (three came in his first three series) and was replaced with Steve Pelluer.^[9]

Collier was waived on June 17, 1987.^[10] He played in four games in 1986, completing 8 of 15 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.

Pittsburgh Steelers

After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Collier was signed to be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers replacement team.^[11] He played in two games before being released after the strike was over on October 19.^[12]

Orlando Predators

In 1991, Collier was the first ever player signed by the Orlando Predators franchise of the Arena Football League. He passed for 1,312 yards, 21 touchdowns, 5 interceptions (a league low), before being replaced by future AFL Hall of Famer Ben Bennett, after being sacked 24 times (highest in the league). He was waived on April 14, 1992.^[13]

Albany Firebirds

On April 13, 1993, He signed with the Albany Firebirds after being out of football for a year rehabbing a knee injury.^[14] On June 29, he was lost for the season with a knee injury.^[15]

Personal life

Collier is currently the Coordinator of Athletic Development and Community Relations in the Southern Miss Athletics Department. He is also a member of the Nu Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

References

External links

• Read-option star QB Reggie Collier missed NFL stardom, but at peace after conquering addiction
• Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame bio