Reggie Collier facts for kids

Reggie Collier, born on May 14, 1961, is a former American football player. He was a talented quarterback. Reggie was famous for his amazing skills in college football. He also played professionally in the United States Football League (USFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

Early Life and High School Football

Reggie Collier's grandparents did not let him play football until he was in his junior year of high school. He attended D'Iberville High School. When he finally joined the team, he became the starting quarterback.

Sadly, he broke his collarbone after playing only three games. His team won all three of those games. In his senior year, he led his team to a perfect season, winning all 13 games. He also played safety on defense. Reggie was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the state's high school all-star game. He also played basketball.

College Football Star

Reggie received a football scholarship from the University of Southern Mississippi. The coach, Bobby Collins, promised Reggie he could play quarterback. As a freshman, Reggie was a backup player.

Becoming a Starter

In his second year, Reggie became the starting quarterback. He led his team to a great 6-0 start. They beat the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University in back-to-back weeks. This helped the team get ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time ever. They were ranked No. 20 on October 21, 1980.

The team then won their first ever bowl game! They beat McNeese State University 16-14 at the Independence Bowl. That year, Reggie threw for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also ran for 464 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Making History

In 1981, as a junior, Reggie had an incredible season. He became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to both pass and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He passed for 1,004 yards and ran for 1,005 yards.

He led his team to some big wins. They beat Mississippi State University and Florida State University. They also tied the University of Alabama 13-13 in a dramatic game. Reggie led the offense down the field to get a game-tying field goal. He even rushed for a career-high 186 yards in one game. The team finished with a 9-2-1 record. Reggie was ranked ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting. The school reached its highest ever Associated Press ranking at No. 9.

Senior Year and Legacy

In 1982, a new coach, Jim Carmody, took over. The team had a 7-4 record. Still, Reggie threw for 1,265 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 803 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led his team to a historic 38-29 win against Alabama. This ended Alabama's 57-game winning streak at their home stadium.

Reggie finished his college career with 3,662 passing yards and 2,304 rushing yards. He had 16 passing touchdowns and 26 rushing touchdowns. His total of 5,977 yards was a school record.

In 2000, Reggie was added to the USM Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also chosen for the Southern Miss Team of the Century. In 2008, his college jersey number 10 was retired by Southern Miss. He is one of only three players in school history to have this honor. In 2008, he was also added to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Reggie Collier played for several teams in different leagues.

United States Football League (USFL)

The Birmingham Stallions picked Reggie in the 1983 USFL Draft. He got injured in his first game. He later suffered a season-ending knee injury. He played in 5 games, throwing for 604 yards and 1 touchdown. He also ran for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In 1984, Reggie was traded to the Washington Federals. He was a backup quarterback there. In 1985, the team moved to Orlando and became the Orlando Renegades. Reggie became the starting quarterback in the fifth game. He finished the season with 2,578 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ran for 606 yards and 12 touchdowns. He even set a pro football record for a quarterback by rushing for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns in one game.

In his USFL career, Reggie threw for 4,151 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,033 yards and 17 touchdowns.

National Football League (NFL)

The Dallas Cowboys picked Reggie in the 1983 NFL Draft. They hoped he would join them after the USFL. In 1986, he signed with the Cowboys. He was the first African American quarterback to make the Cowboys team.

Reggie played in four games in 1986. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. He also started one game, becoming the first African American quarterback to start for the Cowboys. He left the team in 1987.

Later in 1987, Reggie joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a replacement player during a player strike. He played in two games before the strike ended.

Arena Football League (AFL)

In 1991, Reggie was the first player ever signed by the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. He passed for 1,312 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. He was later replaced by another player.

In 1993, Reggie signed with the Albany Firebirds. He had been out of football for a year to recover from a knee injury. He suffered another knee injury that ended his season.

Life After Football

Reggie Collier now works at the Southern Miss Athletics Department. He is the Coordinator of Athletic Development and Community Relations. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

See also

• Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks