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What FAMU football coach James Colzie wants to see in Saturday's first preseason scrimmage
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- What FAMU football coach James Colzie wants to see in Saturday's first preseason scrimmage
Florida A&M football is set to have its first of three preseason training camp scrimmages this Saturday, Aug. 9.
Saturday's scrimmage will be a game-like simulation for the Rattlers while giving FAMU football's second-year head coach, James Colzie III , the first look at his team.
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Many Rattlers will get playing time and be assessed on play-to-play transitions for when it's time for FAMU to kick off its 2025 season versus the Howard Bison in Aug. 30's Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
"Trying to get into game situations," Colzie told the Tallahassee Democrat after Thursday, Aug. 7's practice. "We'll be a team that will do a few different personnel. So, we've got to be able to get ourselves adjusted to that."
Colzie defines a successful scrimmage game as injury-free and his squad playing with poise.
"If we're able to stay healthy, play hard, and make good decisions ― I think we're in a good place," the FAMU coach said.
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FAMU football QB battle, other positions to be closely watched ― but not decided
Position battles won won't be based on one scrimmage.
"I don't think any jobs will necessarily be decided by then. But just getting our guys into the flow," Colzie said.
That includes the starting quarterback spot.
FAMU has five quarterbacks vying to be QB1: Traven Green, Tyler Jefferson, RJ Johnson III, Bryson Martin, and Jett Peddy.
Everyone has worked with the Rattlers' starting offensive lineup during camp.
Johnson worked with the ones a lot at Thursday's practice, Colzie said.
"Not that much," Colzie said when asked how much bearing the scrimmage would hold on deciding the starting quarterback.
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"Because we're going to be doing different types of situations in all three of the scrimmages. A guy plays well, and you'll move up on the depth chart. You don't play well, you'll move down. Ultimately, we can only throw one quarterback out there."
FAMU football's response to new coordinators' wrinkles
The Rattlers have a full slate of new coordinators.
Henry Burris was promoted to offensive coordinator in March. Kenwick Thompson joined the staff as defensive coordinator in April. Kevin Weston became the special teams coordinator in February.
Burris, who's also the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, works closely with the signal callers. He also has three HBCU preseason All-Americans in his arsenal, including running back Thad Franklin Jr. and offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable.
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"[Burris] and I had a great conversation late [last season] about what I wanted to see from our offense. We're on the same page as far as running the ball and getting it to our playmakers," Colzie said.
Thompson, who has defensive coordinator experience on the Football Bowl Subdivision level, has three HBCU preseason All-Americans with defensive end Davion Westmoreland, cornerback TJ Huggins , and an honorable mention in Nay'Ron Jenkins, a linebacker .
Florida A&M Rattlers defensive end Davion Westmoreland (orange mouthpiece) celebrates with teammates during a training camp football practice on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Aug. 5, 2025.
Defensive lineman James Gardner Jr. is a Preseason All-Southwestern Conference second-teamer.
That's not all, however.
The FAMU defense also boasts reserves from last season and transfers that could be major players, such as defensive linemen Antonio Camon and Nick Dimitris, linebacker Brian Norris Jr., and safety TeQuan Latimore .
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"Coach 'Wick' brings so much knowledge and experience from where he's been and has success at other places," Colzie explained. "We're doing a few different things on defense but still trying to put pressure on the guys and letting our guys cover."
Weston, from Norfolk State, has the SWAC's top punter from last season, Alexander Davis, who transferred from Mississippi Valley State. FAMU also has experienced transfer kickers like Cooper Badics from Edward Waters and Daniel Porto from Holy Cross.
FAMU ranked 93rd out of 123 Football Championship Subdivision teams for kick return coverage and 121st for punt coverage, according to NCAA.com. Weston is tasked with fixing that for the Rattlers.
"You can't lose what Coach Weston is doing with our special teams," Colzie said.
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Can FAMU football stay focused through heat of competition at scrimmage?
The Florida A&M Rattlers held a training camp football practice on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.
Saturday's scrimmage will include officials.
So, FAMU players must keep their emotions in check to decrease being flagged by referees. FAMU was one of the nation's most penalized teams last season .
Short-term memory to move past positive or negative plays is also needed.
"There will be a winner and a loser in the play. So, you just got to be able to move to the next one," Colzie said. "So, if you have a great play, are you just going to stay on that play? You've got to move on to the next one. Similar to if you have a bad play."
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Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule
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Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
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Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
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Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
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Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
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Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TV
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Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN Plus
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Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TV
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Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN Network
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Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
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Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando's Camping World Stadium)
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Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
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Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
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Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
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Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)
All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football training camp: QBs, coordinators, flags to assessed
