California transplant Colin O’Connor hits ground running as next skilled East Kentwood QB

BY SCOTT DECAMP

For Michigan Sports Radio

KENTWOOD – Whomever succeeded Kayd Coffman as East Kentwood’s starting quarterback was going to have some mighty large shoes to fill.

After all, Coffman was a 2025 MLive Player of the Year finalist, an Associated Press Divisions 1-2 first-team all-stater, and the MLive Grand Rapids Player of the Year. He’s now a freshman on the Michigan State University football team.

Falcons followers: Meet Colin O’Connor, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior transfer from California, who has looked more than comfortable at the QB controls for an extremely talented East Kentwood squad in 2026.

O’Connor is not aiming to replace Coffman, who powered the Falcons to a 10-3 record and run to the Division 1 state semifinals last fall. He’s trying to be the player and leader that the squad needs to chase its lofty goals this season.

“Obviously I hear the name Kayd a lot, which is good. I think he did a lot of great things for us and set the stage for me in a lot of ways,” said O’Connor, who is articulate and appears to be full of charisma. “How I’ve been looking at it is, I’m my own person. All I can do is be the best leader that I can for our guys and that’s just what I’m focused on.”

So far, so good.

East Kentwood has posted two blowout victories in as many games this season, including an impressive 42-14 road win over Byron Center last Thursday. In that game, O’Connor completed 15 of 19 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, plus he ran eight times for 55 yards.

O’Connor’s stats were more modest in East Kentwood’s 55-0 season-opening home victory over Southfield A&T – 6-of-8 passing for 95 yards and a TD – but the Falcons cruised and that’s all that was needed from him.

East Kentwood coach Tyrone Spencer, in his third season at the Falcons helm, has coached his share of dynamic QBs. He coached the likes of Oregon starting quarterback Dante Moore at Detroit King. Spencer has been impressed with what O’Connor brings to the table.

“I think he’s a kid who is extremely athletic,” Spencer said. “He may not be, like, the runner that you want, but he definitely can use his feet to extend plays and he processes well. He can put the ball where he needs to put the ball. He’s a capable quarterback that can help us win games. I really like him and he’s an ultra competitor and really a good leader, too.”

O’Connor has been groomed for an opportunity such as this one.

The 18-year-old son of Ryan and Loan O’Connor grew up playing football in Southern California, specifically Orange County, at Servite and Yorba Linda high schools.

He landed in Michigan in January as a result of changes with his mother’s employment.

“It’s a crazy story,” he said. “Long story short, I just had some family stuff going on and changes with my mom’s work. She’s always on the East Coast and (her job) kind of brought us out to the Grand Rapids area.”

Michigan high school football does not carry the same clout as that in California, but O’Connor was pleasantly surprised when he arrived on the scene and saw first-hand the work that the East Kentwood program was putting in.

O’Connor admitted that it was a “culture shock” coming here, but in a good way.

“I think the biggest thing that surprised me was really the work ethic of the guys. They’re, like, real hard workers,” he said. “In high school, I’ve been at a couple spots, and it’s not always like guys are willing to push themselves when nobody’s watching and that’s really (the case) here.”

Spencer sets the tone in that regard. O’Connor has been impressed by him as well.

“This guy’s the man,” O’Connor said. “ … I think he just takes the initiative to do things for us, like make sure we’re in the right positions to succeed. I think he’s also very personable, which I really appreciate. He’s not too big to have a conversation with you in a real way.”

Another thing that O’Connor has discovered is that high school football fans in West Michigan are very passionate.

Coming from somebody who has played football in California and is getting acclimated to it in Michigan, O’Connor gives the latter an edge when it comes to community engagement.

“It’s a little different, more so in the communities. I think the communities care more here, which I think is really cool,” he said. “There’s more people in Kentwood that care about East Kentwood football, which I think is super cool. … The same (between California and Michigan) is just the competition. It’s competition everywhere you go.”

Contrary to popular belief, O’Connor did not grow up with a surfboard in his hands. In fact, he’s never surfed despite living about 25 minutes from the ocean in California. O’Connor did try boogie boarding when he was younger, but he admitted he’s afraid of the big waves.

Upon arriving in West Michigan, O’Connor has been to the beach at Lake Michigan. Again, he was pleasantly surprised at the beauty and how “cool” it was.

He’s fitting in just fine here.

“He was just, like, a cool guy,” East Kentwood senior receiver Bryce Barnes said about meeting O’Connor. “We went to a basketball game, (East Kentwood vs.) Rockford. It was just like a cool experience, just bonding with him. It was like a new experience, finding a new culture because he’s from Cali.

“He’s adjusted great. … He’s established a great connection with all of us, and it’s like a different type of connection. He’s gotten deeper into our character. I think we all know him very well. He’s one of our guys. Also a great leader. He’ll be goofy, but he’s also able to lead us.”

East Kentwood’s roster is stocked with college-bound talent. O’Connor has goals of playing football in college, but being new to this part of the country, he realizes it may take some time for his name to circulate.

In some respects, Coffman’s success for East Kentwood could help bring even more exposure to O’Connor. The 6-2, 200-pound Coffman is considered one of the best QBs to ever play for the Falcons, finishing his senior season 194-of-299 passing for 2,787 yards with 35 TDs and only four interceptions while rushing 79 times for 695 yards and eight more scores.

O’Connor is running his own race, however. He’s focused on spreading the football to the bevy of playmakers in East Kentwood’s “explosive” offense.

“We have such a deep roster and so many guys that are great playmakers. I feel so lucky to be around them,” he said.

Starting with Spencer at the top, East Kentwood’s mantra is one game at a time, one day at a time. With EK’s schedule, including the typically rugged stretch through the OK Red beginning this Friday at home vs. Grandville, it’s a wise approach.

O’Connor has bought into that mindset, but he’s not afraid to discuss his big goals for the team.

“The expectation is going to be a state championship for sure,” he said. “I think all of our guys have our sights on that and I think anything short of that would be more of a letdown than anything.”

Featured photo at the top: East Kentwood senior quarterback Colin O’Connor (32) throws a pass during practice Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at Falcon Stadium in Kentwood, Mich. (Photo | Scott DeCamp)