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FAMU football vs Howard: Can Rattlers stop Bison RB Eden James in Orange Blossom Classic?
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- FAMU football vs Howard: Can Rattlers stop Bison RB Eden James in Orange Blossom Classic?
It's all about to play out on the football field.
Florida A&M is set to open its 2025 season versus Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic this Saturday, Aug. 30, at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium .
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Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Week 1 bout is a rematch of the 2023 Black College Football National Championship game that saw the Rattlers outlast the Bison 30-26 in the Celebration Bowl .
But two years later, these teams are pretty different from the last FAMU versus Howard matchup.
FAMU is now under a second-year head coach, James Colzie III, who led the Rattlers to a 7-5 overall record and 5-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in his first season.
Howard's head coach, Larry Scott, is entering his fifth full season. He looks to bring the Bison back to a championship level after finishing 4-8 and 1-4 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2024 after winning the league title in 2022 and 2023.
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Let's look at the biggest questions FAMU football will answer in its season opener versus Howard.
Can FAMU football's defense contain Howard star running back Eden James?
It runs in the family.
Howard running back Eden James, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, is primed for a breakout year that could start with the Rattlers.
Aug 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Howard Bison running back Eden James (5) reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown during the first half against Rutgers at SHI Stadium.
The graduate student rushed 97 times for 422 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder also had 23 receptions for 148 yards.
"They do a great job of getting him the football," Colzie said in the SWAC football coach's media availability on Monday, Aug. 25. "The biggest thing when you get a running back like that, you've got to tackle well and get all your hats to the football. We've got to hit him before he gets going."
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James is a preseason candidate for the Deacon Jones Trophy, given to the top player in Black College Football, and was named to the All-MEAC preseason first team.
Last time James played FAMU, he had 12 carries for 55 yards, a nearly five-yard average per touch during the Celebration Bowl in 2023.
Dec. 16, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida A&M linebacker Isaiah Major and running back Eden James battle for the ball during the Cricket Celebration Bowl game between Florida A&M University and Howard University at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network
Howard is known for running the football, but it finished fifth out of the six MEAC teams last season. However, FAMU struggled against the run in 2024 , ranking 83rd out of 123 Football Championship Subdivision teams in rushing defense.
This season, the Rattlers will be under a new defensive coordinator, Kenwick Thompson .
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"If we're able to stop the run, that allows us to do some things on defense," Colzie said. "We know who the focal point's going to be. He's a very, very good football player. But hopefully, we're able to do what we need to do on defense so we can have the success that we need to have."
What does a RJ Johnson-led FAMU football offense look like?
The news is out.
RJ Johnson III will start at quarterback for FAMU on Saturday versus Howard.
It'll be his first college start, let alone college reps, when he leads the Rattlers' offense.
Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback RJ Johnson III warms up for a training camp football practice on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025.
With promoted offensive coordinator Henry Burris , FAMU may have a balanced attack with a first-time starting quarterback, equipped with a preseason running back, Thad Franklin Jr., and offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable, all preseason HBCU All-Americans .
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"I think they're going to try to make us throw the football as well. Anytime you have the run game and offensive line that we have, I would try to flip it and try to make us throw the football," Colzie said, predicting Howard's defensive scheme.
"Especially with a quarterback that's going to be going into his first start."
Last time Johnson played meaningful snaps was when he was at Atlanta's Westlake High School as a four-year starter who completed 574 passes on 869 attempts (66 percent) for 9,042, 79 touchdown throws against 22 interceptions. He added 160 carries for 697 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
By the numbers, Johnson has dual-threat ability.
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But will it translate to the college level?
Is FAMU football equipped to beat the Miami weather vs Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic?
Sep 4, 2022; Miami, Florida, US; Hard Rock Stadium before the Orange Blossom Classic between Jackson State and Florida A&M.. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
The Rattlers spent training camp practicing in Tallahassee's hot and muggy weather.
So, FAMU is more acclimated to warm weather conditions than Howard, from Washington, D.C.
"We'll be in South Florida," Colzie said. "Probably will have a little bit of an advantage with maybe the way the weather works [from] being down here and practicing in this type of weather."
Miami Gardens is expected to have a high temperature of 88 degrees on Saturday. However, thunderstorms are also predicted, which could add another layer to the game and how teams perform under the elements at Hard Rock Stadium.
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Gerald Thomas, III Score Prediction: FAMU 28, Howard 14
Florida A&M vs. Howard ― Orange Blossom Classic
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When: Saturday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.
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Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
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How to watch: ESPNU
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 storylines vs Howard: Eden James, RJ Johnson, weather
