Reggie Collier
Encyclopedia
Reginald C. Collier 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
.
Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback
for the The University of Southern Mississippi
. In 1981, he became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season, and came in ninth in Heisman Trophy voting.
In 1983, Collier was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions
of the United States Football League
in the first round in 1983 (third player overall). He later played with the Washington Federals and the Orlando Renegades
.
In 1986, Collier signed a four-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys
, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft
. Though drafted as a QB, he played several games at wide receiver
due to team injuries. After one season with the Cowboys, he was waived and later joined the Pittsburgh Steelers
in 1987. He played in 2 games for the Steelers before ending his NFL career.
In 2000, he was selected, along with Brett Favre
, to the Southern Miss Team of the Century.
His collegiate No. 10 Jersey was retired by Southern Miss in 2008.
He is currently the Coordinator of Athletic Development and Community Relations in the Southern Miss Athletics Department. Collier is also a member of the Nu Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
and National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
. In 1981, he became the first quarterback in NCAA Division I history to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season, and came in ninth in Heisman Trophy voting.
In 1983, Collier was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field...
of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
in the first round in 1983 (third player overall). He later played with the Washington Federals and the Orlando Renegades
Orlando Renegades
The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-In Washington:-1983 season:...
.
In 1986, Collier signed a four-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
. Though drafted as a QB, he played several games at wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
due to team injuries. After one season with the Cowboys, he was waived and later joined the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 1987. He played in 2 games for the Steelers before ending his NFL career.
In 2000, he was selected, along with Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, to the Southern Miss Team of the Century.
His collegiate No. 10 Jersey was retired by Southern Miss in 2008.
He is currently the Coordinator of Athletic Development and Community Relations in the Southern Miss Athletics Department. Collier is also a member of the Nu Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.