Franklin County to retire Collins’ jersey Thursday

Published 12:05 pm Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The most decorated athlete to come out of Franklin County High School will have his jersey retired Thursday during the halftime of the annual Blue and White Spring Football Scrimmage.

The scrimmage will begin at 5 p.m., and there will be a $5 fundraiser entrance fee.

Jamie Collins, a Super Bowl champion and linebacker of the New England Patriots, will be introduced to the crowd at Louie Mullins Memorial Stadium during halftime as Franklin County retires his No. 1 jersey.

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From 2006 to 2008, Collins finished with a 34-5 record as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback in those three seasons. He accounted for 52 touchdowns and nearly 5,500 yards of total offense for the Bulldogs. His sophomore year in 2006, he helped guide the Bulldogs to the Class 3A State Championship. FCHS finished State runners-up in 2007 and South State runners-up in 2008.

“Those were some good years,” said Collins. “I’ve enjoyed them all.”

In more than 100 Friday night highlight plays, many still remember the “Collins Game” in 2006.

“That play was just awesome,” said Kane Carlock, a former blocking teammate of Collins and a member of the 2006 State Championship team. “It made our season that year.”

The play was a designed quarterback keeper that Collins executed to the fullest. He escaped a crowd of defenders, as he dashed left and shoulder-faked a tackler out of bounds, racing down the sidelines 50 yards for the game-winning touchdown.