4-star QB Rickie Collins commits to LSU football, becomes first QB in 2023 class
Four-star quarterback Rickie Collins has committed to LSU football, he announced at Mason's Grill in Baton Rouge on Wednesday.
Collins is the No. 13 quarterback and No. 177 player in the nation from the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports Composite. He attends Woodlawn Baton Rouge and is the No. 12 player in Louisiana.
"When (LSU) came, I knew it was always going to be a real consideration, staying in my hometown and playing for LSU," Collins said. "And then the coaching staff changed and they came back (to me) in late July. So I knew I just had to keep (LSU) in my back pocket because you never know what can happen."
At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Collins decommitted from Purdue on Aug. 1. His lead recruiters at LSU were quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
"Me and Coach Sloan have a great relationship," Collins said. "He recruited me (when he was at) Louisiana Tech, he offered me at La Tech. So it's been an ongoing relationship from there. I mean, it never really stopped even when he didn't have a job. ... He was still hitting me up."
LSU started to become a factor in Collins' recruitment after his experience at the Elite 11 Finals in late June, despite his commitment to Purdue.
"Purdue and our relationship just didn't work out," Collins said. "Right around the time I was still committed, Florida State was making a real good push. LSU was obviously making a push. Penn State came late after I decommitted.
"Really, LSU always stuck out to me because it's always been my hometown state."
Collins is the 19th player to commit to LSU's class and its first quarterback. He is also the sixth player from Louisiana, joining five-star wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr., four-star running backs Kaleb Jackson and Trey Holly, four-star offensive tackle Tyree Adams and three-star defensive back Ashton Stamps.
LSU has the No. 6 class in the nation and the No. 3 class in the SEC following Collins' commitment.
On Aug. 1, just minutes before Collins decommitted from Purdue, LSU fans, players and commitments tweeted out the hashtag #RickieReconsidered. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Collins.
"They posted it before I even decommitted, so I was like, 'Come on guys,'" Collins said. "But, it showed that they really wanted me. No other school did something like that."
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The Tigers are projected to have up to three scholarship quarterbacks next season, not including Collins. Freshman Walker Howard, redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and senior Jayden Daniels can all return in 2023.
"(The coaching staff) gave me the comparison to Desmond Ridder and Jayden Daniels. So those are two great quarterbacks," Collins said.
Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football lands Rickie Collins, four-star quarterback in 2023 class
