Reggie Collier facts for kids
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | May 14, 1961 Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | D'Iberville (MS) | ||||||||
| College: | Southern Miss | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 6 / Pick: 162 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Reginald C. Collier, born on May 14, 1961, is a former American football player. He was a talented quarterback who played in college and professionally. Reggie was famous for his amazing skills in college football. He also played for a short time in two professional leagues: the United States Football League (USFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Reggie Collier's grandparents did not let him play football until he was a junior in high school. He attended D'Iberville High School in Mississippi. When he finally joined the team, he quickly became the starting quarterback.
He played well in his first three games, leading his team to wins. However, he broke his collarbone and missed the rest of that season.
Senior Year Success
In his senior year, Reggie led his team to a perfect season, winning all 13 games. He also played safety on defense, showing his skills on both sides of the ball. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the state's high school all-star game. Besides football, Reggie also played basketball.
College Football Career
Reggie Collier received a football scholarship from the University of Southern Mississippi. The head coach, Bobby Collins, used a special offense called the "veer offense." He promised Reggie that 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 the team to a great start, winning their first six games. This included big wins against the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University. For the first time ever, Southern Miss was ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, reaching No. 20.
The team also won their first ever bowl game, beating McNeese State University 16-14 in the Independence Bowl. That year, Reggie threw for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also ran for 464 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Record-Breaking Junior Year
In 1981, Reggie had an incredible junior year. 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 threw for 1,004 yards and ran for 1,005 yards.
He led Southern Miss to some famous victories. They beat Mississippi State University and Florida State University. They also tied the University of Alabama 13-13 in a dramatic game, with Reggie leading the team to a game-tying field goal. He even rushed for a career-high 186 yards in one game.
Reggie's team finished with a 9-2-1 record. He was ninth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the best college football player. Southern Miss reached its highest ever Associated Press ranking, at No. 9.
Senior Season and Legacy
In 1982, a new coach, Jim Carmody, took over. The team's offense changed, and they had a 7-4 record. Still, Reggie had a strong season, throwing for 1,265 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed for 803 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He led Southern Miss to a historic 38-29 win against Alabama. This win ended Alabama's amazing 57-game winning streak at their home stadium.
Reggie finished his college career with impressive numbers. He had 3,662 passing yards and 2,304 rushing yards. His total of 5,977 yards of offense was a school record. He scored 16 passing touchdowns and 26 rushing touchdowns.
In 2000, Reggie was honored by being inducted into the Southern Miss Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also chosen for the Southern Miss Team of the Century, alongside famous quarterback Brett Favre. In 2008, Southern Miss retired his No. 10 jersey, a very special honor given to only three players in the school's history. That same year, he was also inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Reggie Collier played professionally in several football leagues.
United States Football League (USFL)
The Birmingham Stallions picked Reggie Collier in the first round of the 1983 USFL Draft. He got injured early in his first season. He played in 10 games, starting 5 of them. He threw for 604 yards and 1 touchdown, and rushed for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns.
In 1984, Reggie was traded to the Washington Federals. He was a backup quarterback for most of that season.
Orlando Renegades
In 1985, the Washington Federals team moved to Orlando and became the Orlando Renegades. Reggie became the starting quarterback in the fifth game of the season. He finished the season with 2,578 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 606 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, including two long runs of 63 and 71 yards.
In one game against the Tampa Bay Bandits, he had his best passing performance, throwing for 214 yards and 3 touchdowns. Against the Jacksonville Bulls, he rushed for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns, setting a new record for a quarterback in professional football.
Overall 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 selected Reggie Collier in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL draft. They hoped he would join them if the USFL did not last. In 1986, he signed a contract with the Cowboys. This was around the same time they acquired famous running back Herschel Walker.
Reggie was seen as a very talented player, even though he was still learning. He was also the first African American quarterback to be on the Cowboys' main roster.
He played in four games during the 1986 season. In one game against the Washington Redskins, he came in during the fourth quarter and helped the team score a touchdown. In the last game of the season, against the Chicago Bears, he became the first African American quarterback to start a game for the Cowboys. He was later released by the team in 1987.
Pittsburgh Steelers
During the 1987 season, NFL players went on strike. Teams used replacement players for some games. Reggie Collier joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a replacement player. He played in two games before the strike ended.
Arena Football League (AFL)
In 1991, Reggie was the very first player signed by the Orlando Predators team in the Arena Football League. He threw for 1,312 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was later replaced by another player and left the team in 1992.
In 1993, after recovering from a knee injury, he signed with the Albany Firebirds. However, he suffered another knee injury and missed the rest of that season.
Life After Football
Reggie Collier now works for the Southern Miss Athletics Department. He is the Coordinator of Athletic Development and Community Relations. He is also a member of the Nu Eta chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
See also
- Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
