THE CHAMPS ARE HERE
Much has changed since we last checked in with the Rattlers.
Back in March, James Colzie III, successor to the legendary Willie Simmons, returned to Tallahassee with very heavy expectations on his shoulders. One of the most successful eras in the history of the FAMU Football program, which he contributed to considerably as a defensive backs coach and later assistant head coach, is still fresh in all of minds. Rightfully, Coach Colzie’s tenure at FAMU begins with championship, as it was a major factor in his on-campus popularity (especially in the Rattlers locker room) as a candidate for the job. Now, the challenge of duplicating last season’s flawless Celebration Bowl run, begins in-earnest.
The reigning HBCU National Champions arrived at SWAC Football Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama, sporting all of their gold.
As a reminder, in addition to the national championship, the Rattlers are currently the reigning conference champions (the first conference championship for the Rattlers, since arriving in 2021). In addition to those conference accolades, the Rattlers hold the best win record in the conference, and haven’t lost a conference game since early 2022. On the issue of talent, FAMU has seven returning student-athletes named All-SWAC for their performances last season. In fact, the last time the Rattlers weren’t the best team in the SWAC, Deion Sanders was coaching an HBCU somewhere in Mississippi.
However, when preseason predictions for how the final standing were published, the reigning champions were projected to fall short:
- Alabama State (114)
- Florida A&M (104)
- Jackson State (87)
- Alabama A&M (76)
- Bethune-Cookman (47)
- Mississippi Valley State (31)
???????????? ???????????????? ????????#SWACMD24 x @FAMUAthletics pic.twitter.com/RgcIKbrHUS
— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) July 18, 2024
SPORTS CLUB PREDICTION TIME
This disrespect is unacceptable.
As a staff writer for a Florida-based platform, I’m allowed to call this projection out for the foolishness that it is. Understand this, the Rattlers are still the best team in all HBCU football. Coach Colzie is not leading his program through a rebuild, this year is simply about reloading championship program in Tallahassee, Florida. Currently, as far as we know, the Rattlers’ five biggest drawbacks this season are cosmetic, and will be answered long before MEAC/SWAC Challenge Week in Atlanta:
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A QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY? Last season’s SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Award recipient, and Coach Simmons’ starting quarterback, Jeremy Moussa has moved on. However, talent is never far from Tallahassee. Currently on the roster, Junior Muratovic from Orlando (Wekiva), Trey Fisher from Tallahassee (UT-Martin), Bryson Martin from Clearwater (Miami), Alston Hooker from North Carolina (NCAT) and Daniel Richardson from Miami (FAU). On field talent aside, FAMU has been diligently working to fill-in gaps on the sidelines as well. Recognizing the need for an offensive mind in his braintrust, Colzie has brought in Henry Burris as his new co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. An NFL alum (Bears, Packers as a player) (Rams, Bears, and Jaguars as a coach), Burris bringing valuable insight from his time mentoring Trevor Lawerence in Jacksonville, to the first year staff in Tallahassee. Roster depth in the summer, insightful coaching and development, is a good recipe for high quality quarterback play in the fall. Watch this space.
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DARK CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON? Key pieces from last season’s top ranked defensive unit in the entire SWAC are gone. Names like Isaiah Major, and Coach Ryan Smith have moved on. However, continuity is intact with the elevation of Milton Patterson to defensive coordinator. Promoted as a move that allows for minimal changes to the Rattlers’ defensive philosophy, and one that has proven attractive to prospects like national signing day arrivals Demorie Tate (FSU) and Jameel Sanders (USF). Patterson will be helpful in supporting the elevation of returning Rattler standouts like Kendall Bohler, Deco Wilson, and Allen Smith Jr.
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CROWD PATH? FAMU will be better than Alabama State, Jackson State, and every other conference opponent on the schedule this season. Traveling to Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 7th, will be FAMU’s biggest test on the road this year, followed by a visit to Troy. Meanwhile, FAMU’s ongoing home win streak will likely continue against South Carolina State, Alabama A&M, Southern, Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State.
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CHAMPIONSHIP HANGOVER? As a long-time fan of the FAMU Rattlers, the Willie Simmons era was some of the best football I’ve ever witnessed in person. I believe in Colzie’s vision of success via continuity, but the void left by one of the winningest coaches in recent Rattlers’ history will have an unavoidable impact. A brand new staff, and new members of the program will learn and develop in a system, and program culture that was cultivated in by Coach Simmons. That reason alone gives me full confidence that FAMU will be the best team in the SWAC once again.
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NO WILLIE? It hurts.
Watch this space.
Two weeks in the ????
Rattlers back at it this week!#FAMU | #Rattlers | #RELOAD | #REPEAT pic.twitter.com/ijxdbDzXaq
— Florida A&M Football ???? (@FAMU_FB) March 26, 2024
SWAC FOOTBALL P.O.F
SWAC East
- Alabama State- 114 points (11)
- Florida A&M- 104 points (6)
- Jackson State- 87 points (2)
- Alabama A&M- 76 points (4)
- Bethune-Cookman- 47 points
- Mississippi Valley State- 31 points (1)
SWAC West
- Alcorn State- 112 points (11)
- Prairie View A&M- 104 points (8)
- Grambling State- 72 points (4)
- Southern- 70 points (1)
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 61 points
- Texas Southern- 40 points
*First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Quarterback: Myles Crawley, Grambling State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern
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Rattlers were in Atlanta for the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off.
Purchase your tickets today.
????️ https://t.co/03j5srdZt2#FAMU | #Rattlers pic.twitter.com/GD21e4HyiV
— Florida A&M Football ???? (@FAMU_FB) July 17, 2024
Preseason All-SWAC Football Team
All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Myles Crawley, Grambling State
Running Back: Donovan Eaglin, Alabama A&M
Running Back: Kendric Rhymes, Southern
Offensive Lineman: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Arelious Dunn, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Evan Henry, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Tahj Martin, Grambling State
Offensive Lineman: Joseph Church, Mississippi Valley State
Wide Receiver: Fabian McCray, Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Jacolby Hewitt, Alabama A&M
Tight End: Tavarious Griffin, Alcorn State
All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State
Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern
Defensive Lineman: Treqwan Thomas, Alabama State
Defensive Lineman: CJ Pressley, Prairie View A&M
Linebacker: Rico Dozier, Alabama State
Linebacker: Jacob Williams, Texas Southern
Linebacker: Demarkus Cunningham, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Emari Pait, Alabama A&M
Defensive Back: James Burgess, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Deco Wilson, Florida A&M
All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Cameron Gillis, Florida A&M
Punter: Matt Noll, Jackson State
Return Specialist: Robert McMinn, Alabama State
Long Snapper: Braxston Blackwell, Southern
???????????? ???????????????? ????????#SWACMD24 x @FAMUAthletics pic.twitter.com/RgcIKbrHUS
— Southwestern Athletic Conference (@theswac) July 18, 2024
All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jace Wilson, Texas Southern
Running Back: Kelvin Dean, Florida A&M
Running Back: Marcus Harris, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Joshua Trask Jr., Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mehdi Torrence, Texas Southern
Offensive Lineman: Cameron Williams, Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: N/A
Wide Receiver: Jamari Gassett, Florida A&M
Wide Receiver: Javon Robinson, Grambling State
Tight End: Jaxson Davis, Mississippi Valley State
All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State
Defensive Lineman: Allen Smith, Florida A&M
Defensive Lineman: Michael Akins, Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Jamal Marshall, Prairie View A&M
Linebacker: Isaiah Bogerty, Texas Southern
Linebacker: Dearis Thomas, Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Derrick Williams, Southern
Defensive Back: Amon Scarbrough, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Esaias Guthrie, Jackson State
Defensive Back: Edwin Summerour, Alcorn State
Defensive Back: Javius Williams, Texas Southern
All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Joshua Griffin, Southern
Punter: Jeremy Baker, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Jamari Gassett, Florida A&M
Long Snapper: Clayton Thomas Jr., Bethune-Cookman
Two weeks in the ????
Rattlers back at it this week!#FAMU | #Rattlers | #RELOAD | #REPEAT pic.twitter.com/ijxdbDzXaq
— Florida A&M Football ???? (@FAMU_FB) March 26, 2024