Family and legacy are words that are often associated with the HBCU experience. Those words will hit differently for incoming Florida A&M University (FAMU) football transfer Dorian Collier, as he’s transferring to a school where his great-grandfather, Emory Collier II, is in the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Dorian won’t be the only fruit of Emory Collier II’s lions to join the football legacy at FAMU, as Emory Collier II’s son and grandson have suited up to play football for the Rattlers.
Emory Collier II played quarterback for legendary Florida A&M head coach Jake Gaither from 1958-1961. He was a two-time All-Conference player and led the Rattlers to two Black College National Championships and four SIAC titles. He was inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and was on the Rattlers’ Centennial Football team in 2005.
While Emory Collier II’s son Corey Collier didn’t play HBCU football, he was a talented college player, racking up 1,590 yards as a running back at Georgia Tech University.
Collier II’s son, Emory Collier III followed in his father’s FAMU footsteps and was a running back and wide receiver from 1979-1982. Collier III’s son, Emory Collier IV played for the Rattlers in 2002, the same year his grandfather was inducted into the Florida A&M Athletics Hall of Fame.
“I think my father’s stories and going to the Orange Blossom Classic kind of sold me on FAMU in my childhood,” Emory Collier III told the Tallahassee Democrat in 2002 in an article about the Collier family legacy with FAMU football. Emory Collier IV echoed his father’s sentiment in the same article, “The main reason I (Emory Collier IV) wanted to come here was to follow in their footsteps.”
PHOTO GALLERY: COLLIER FAMU LEGACY
Fast forward to 2024, and the impact of Emory Collier II’s legacy in Tallahassee has motivated another Collier son to play football at an HBCU as Dorian Collier, the great-grandson of Emory Collier II has transferred to FAMU and will play for the reigning HBCU national champions in the Fall.
Dorian Collier posted a simple message on social media to announce his transfer from Division II Chadron State College to FAMU. “Home🧡Legacy💚Committed🠔 the three-word message, separated by orange and green hearts and punctuated with a snake emoji was accompanied by a picture of the Tallahassee Democrat article about his great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncle from 2002.
The 6 foot 1 220 pound running back played at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee where he was second on the team in rushes and touchdowns. He began his collegiate career at Division II Chadron State College, putting up 943 all-purpose yards and 4 touchdowns in his two seasons, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Dorian Collier comes to FAMU with two years of eligibility and four generations of history, as the Collier football legacy adds another chapter at Florida A&M in 2024.