CUSA Notebook: Kennesaw State, Missouri State name starting QBs

CUSA Notebook: Kennesaw State, Missouri State name starting QBs

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CUSA Notebook: Kennesaw State, Missouri State name starting QBs
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 25: Rickie Collins #10 of the Syracuse Orange during throws the ball the first half of the game between Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Syracuse Orange at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

The end of fall camp is near across the entire country, meaning it’s time to finalize depth chart decisions.

Conference USA saw its fair share of quarterback battles in fall camp, and two of these competitions were decided this week:

Kennesaw State Owls

Starting QB – Rickie Collins

The reigning CUSA champions lost starting quarterback Amari Odom to Syracuse in the transfer portal this offseason. Coincidentally, Kennesaw State received a Syracuse quarterback in return from the portal. Rickie Collins started five games for the Orange in 2025 after Steve Angeli suffered a torn Achilles tendon. He posted 1,042 passing yards on a 53.6 completion rate and delivered six touchdowns to 10 interceptions. As a rusher, the Baton Rouge, LA native added 126 yards and a touchdown on 54 attempts.

The redshirt junior is now on his third school in three years after originally committing to LSU in 2023 as a 4-star recruit. As first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Collins won the quarterback competition over JUCO standout Landon Varnes, who led the NJCAA in passing yards (3,296) and passing touchdowns (31) last season. Still seeking his first win as a starter, Collins will make his 2026 debut Thursday, Sept. 3 when Kennesaw State hosts FCS opponent West Georgia at Fifth Third Stadium.

Missouri State Bears

Starting QB – Skyler Locklear

In year two of Missouri State’s FBS membership, former SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods takes over as head coach. Woods named Skyler Locklear as his first starting quarterback in Springfield, as confirmed by the team’s official Twitter account.

Locklear spent the prior two seasons as UTEP’s primary starter, earning 16 starts for the Miners. Over that timeframe, Locklear accumulated 3,001 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions on a 59.7 completion rate. He also proved to be a capable runner, collecting 633 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns at UTEP, with a noticeable uptick in production from 2024 to 2025.

The former UTEP starter won the quarterback competition over Duke transfer Henry Belin IV. Belin started two games for the Blue Devils, defeating NC State in 2023 before falling to Ole Miss in the 2024 TaxSlayer Bowl. Over four seasons in Durham, he produced 540 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions through the air and 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Locklear will make his debut with the Bears in a hostile Saturday night environment in front of approximately 100,000 fans at Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 5.

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