Purdue is off and running with its first commitment of the Class of 2023. And, it's a big one: Baton Rouge, La., quarterback Rickie Collins.
"Ever since the first time we got on the phone and talked about me and my family and my future, when they offered me, it has been like a family feel, like they really wanted me, they were genuine," Collins told GoldandBlack.com. "And I want to be a part of the Purdue legacy."
The 6-1, 181-pound product of Woodlawn High is a four-star talent who grew up watching Purdue icon Drew Brees play for the New Orleans Saints. Now, Collins would like to enjoy his own success in West Lafayette.
"Purdue was definitely out ahead of a lot of schools," said Collins, who announced his commitment on Twitter on Friday morning. "LSU was right there. Louisville and Arkansas were right there, as well. But Purdue just stood out to me."
Collins describes himself as a pro-style quarterback. But, if a play breaks down, he can improvise and make something happen.
"I'm going to find a way to make a play even if there's nothing there," said Collins, who totalled 1,449 yards of offense and 16 total TD's in five games as a sophomore in 2020. "I'm going to find a way to play and I'm going to be the best I can be for the team."
This season, Collins has four total touchdowns and 566 passing yards in three games, as Woodlawn's only victory so far in 2021 was forfeited. The school's first game was cancelled.
Collins visited campus over the summer and plans to attend the Wisconsin game on Oct. 23.
Collins is part of a growing collection of Purdue recruits from Louisiana, a pipeline cultivated by Boilermaker special teams coach Marty Biagi. The 2022 Boilermaker class includes LB Roman Pitre, WR Curtis Deville and OL Malachi Preciado. The 2021 Class included DB Jah'von Grigsby. Collins said the growing collection of Louisiana talent influenced his decision to pick Purdue.
"It definitely did," said Collins, a basketball and baseball player who held offers from Virginia Tech, TCU, Memphis and Arkansas in addition to LSU and Louisville, among others. "I want to be able to go start something there, and why not join the guys from the Boot? And go down there and put on a show for everybody."
Purdue has a commitment from a four-star quarterback in the Class of 2022: Brady Allen. The Boilermakers didn't sign a quarterback in the Class of 2021.
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