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FAMU football's Jameel Sanders named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week
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- FAMU football's Jameel Sanders named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week
Florida A&M football's Jameel Sanders is the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 3 performance versus Albany State last Saturday, Sept. 13.
Sanders, defensive back, was the Rattlers' most productive player on defense with a team-leading six tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack during their 33-25 comeback win over the Golden Rams.
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The redshirt senior from Plainfield, New Jersey, also added a pass breakup.
Florida A&M Rattlers defensive back Jameel Sanders (8) tackles an opponent. The Florida A&M Rattlers defeated the Albany State Golden Rams during the first home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
The SWAC named Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelious Brown IV and Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body the co-offensive players of the week. Jackson State quarterback Jared Lockhart and Arkansas-Pine Bluff running back Jaylen Jennings shared the honor of SWAC Newcomer of the Week.
Finally, Alabama A&M kicker Victor Barbosa was named the top special teams player in the SWAC over the weekend.
Sanders' award comes in the 2025 season, where he was named a Preseason All-SWAC second teamer and is on the Aeneas Williams Award Preseason Watchlist, an honor earned by the best defensive back of a Historically Black College and University football team that competes on the NCAA Division I level.
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FAMU football is currently on a bye week and has a 1-2 record.
The Rattlers return to action on Sept. 27 for their home Southwestern Athletic Conference opener versus the Alabama State Hornets (2-1).
Florida A&M Football's Remaining 2025 Schedule
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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), TIME TBA, ESPN Plus
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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's Jameel Sanders wins SWAC Defensive Player of the Week
