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FAMU football wants energy to 'keep rising' during spring camp | Takeaways from first practice
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- FAMU football wants energy to 'keep rising' during spring camp | Takeaways from first practice
Day one of spring football is in the books.
On Friday, Florida A&M had its first spring practice on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The Rattlers displayed energy and eagerness to return to the field, setting a good tone for their 15 spring practices.
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"The effort and attention to detail were there," said Nay'Ron Jenkins , a senior linebacker for the Rattlers. "We just got to keep climbing. It's easy to come out on day one, and everybody's pumped up. We just got to keep it rising for when we get to day 12-13."
FAMU football won't take the field for another week and a half on Tuesday, March 18. FAMU students are on spring break from March 10 through March 14.
Typically, the Rattlers would have three practices before spring break. However, January's snow days in Tallahassee impacted FAMU football's offseason schedule.
FAMU head coach James Colzie III said getting a day of practice was vital to somewhat stay within the program's traditional spring football timetable.
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The Rattlers will have their spring Orange and Green Spring Game on Saturday, April 12, and then practices will end on Wednesday, April 16.
Florida A&M head coach James Colzie III looks on during the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
"It was important to get this day in," Colzie said after his team's first spring practice of 2025. "The energy's there, and everyone's flying around."
This year, FAMU has 93 players as of its first spring practice. Last year, that number was down significantly to 58 as Colzie transitioned into the head coaching role for the Rattlers.
"That helps with getting a look with your first, second, and third groups," the second-year coach Colzie said of his roster intel. "You got some new faces that are learning new things we're asking them to do."
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FAMU football's quarterbacks get a good review after first spring practice
FAMU enters this spring with a new-look quarterback room under the leadership of its assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach, Henry Burris .
Tyler Jefferson from Central Michigan and Roman Purcell from Indiana have transferred to FAMU. Traven Green and Junior Muratovic return from last year's team.
Florida A&M quarterbacks drop back to pass during the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
Last year's starter, Daniel Richardson , graduated after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Newcomer of the Year and earning first-team honors.
"All the quarterbacks are still learning. We got new guys and Junior coming back," said Koby Gross, an All-SWAC Second Team tight end in 2024. "It's a whole new thing. We just got to keep progressing."
Florida A&M quarterback Junior Muratovic throws a pass in the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
Colzie had good reviews of his quarterbacks after the first day of spring.
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He iterated that the Rattlers are nowhere near deciding who will start when the 2025 regular season begins in August.
"The most important position at Florida A&M is quarterback. So, we'll take our time making that decision," Colzie said. "Those guys today did a good job executing what was asked. I liked what I saw.
"But ultimately, we did have an interception during team [drills]. Those are things we can't have," Colzie added.
FAMU's defense gets disruptive during first spring practice
FAMU's defense was active on Friday.
The Rattlers did well challenging the offense and attacking the football to close out players.
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FAMU's defense is making improvements this season. However, the Rattlers won't have their defensive coordinator from 2024, Milton Patterson , who left this January to become a defensive assistant for the New England Patriots .
"I think our defense in general and Rattlers fans understand what this defense is supposed to be about," Colzie said. "The guys are doing some good things. We've instituted some new things defensively as well. I'm excited about what we did today."
Jenkins, FAMU's leading tackler among this season's returning players, was often in the mix.
He even snagged an interception during team drills.
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"We were just hungry," Jenkins explained. "We'll keep making the small things right and getting the formation checks down. Once we're flying around, communication, and everybody's on the same page, we'll be ok."
FAMU football will have a lot of seniors during the 2025 season
Colzie said that FAMU has 35 seniors this spring.
Success hinges on the soon-to-be graduates' leadership and on-field production.
"We're going as far Koby Gross, Nay'Ron Jenkins, Ashton Grable (offensive line), and TJ Huggins (cornerback) take us. Those are guys that continue to step up," Colzie said. "I'm happy with where we are, but we still got a long way to go. If we can mesh our veterans with our portal guys, which I think we will, we'll be a pretty good football team."
Florida A&M tight end Koby Gross goes through drills during the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
Gross has played for FAMU football since 2022.
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The senior has seen the Rattlers have winning seasons and capture championship trophies.
However, something about this team is special. Gross says it can play in Atlanta 's Celebration Bowl to compete for a Black College Football National Championship this December.
"Last year, we didn't have this type of gel that we do right now," Gross said. "I think we have more of a grip on what we're trying to do this year, and that's to be in Atlanta in December. In all my years here, this is probably the closest we've been as a team."
After a player's only meeting early this year, accountability is the name of the game for the Rattlers this spring and moving forward.
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FAMU football players also have more team bonding this offseason.
"We got to lead each other," Jenkins said. "We've been able to hold each other accountable. I think that's a very important part of it. We're close-knit. It's a brotherhood."
Florida A&M Football Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Florida A&M linebacker Brian Norris Jr. talks with teammates during the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
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Tuesday, March 18
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Thursday, March 20
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Friday, March 21
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Tuesday, March 25
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Thursday, March 27 ― Scrimmage
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Friday, March 28
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Tuesday, April 1
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Thursday, April 3 ― Scrimmage
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Friday, April 4
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Tuesday, April 8
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Thursday, April 10
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Saturday, April 12 ― Orange and Green Spring Game
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Monday, April 14
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Wednesday, April 16
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 .
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football shows 'effort, attention to detail' at 1st spring practice
