Trades aren’t a thing in college football, at least not in January of 2026, but Kennesaw State and Syracuse completed an unofficial quarterback swap in the transfer portal.
Syracuse landed Kennesaw State
starter Amari Odom, while the Owls received the Orange’s backup quarterback Rickie Collins.
Odom spearheaded college football’s most impressive turnaround in 2024, guiding Kennesaw State from 2-10 to an 11-3 finish, complete with the label of Conference USA champions — in the program’s second year of FBS membership and 11th season overall. The CUSA Championship Game MVP was not the Owls’ original starter but started nine of 14 contests, collecting 2,594 passing yards on a 64.9 completion rate while firing for 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also added 349 yards and seven touchdowns as a rusher in an unforgettable season leading the Owls.
Odom will best be remembered for his winning drive in the CUSA title game vs. Jacksonville State, where he scrambled 14 yards on a do-or-die 4th and 14 in the final minute to keep Kennesaw State’s hopes alive. One play later, he delivered the game-winning touchdown to Navelle Dean to commence the celebration for the black and gold.
Looking to continue Odom’s legacy is Collins, who spent roughly half the season as Syracuse’s starter due to a season-ending Achilles injury from Steve Angeli. Collins started five contests for the Orange, throwing for 1,042 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while also rushing for 126 yards. Prior to Syracuse, the former 4-star recruit debuted at LSU, where he spent two seasons as a backup for the Tigers. The Baton Rouge native is now on his third school in three years, and he’s currently the most experienced quarterback on Kennesaw State’s roster after Odom’s co-starter Dexter Williams II transferred to Tulsa.
Both Odom and Collins arrive at their new homes with two years of eligibility remaining.
