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FAMU football's Orange and Green Spring Game provides building blocks for 2025 | Takeaways
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- FAMU football's Orange and Green Spring Game provides building blocks for 2025 | Takeaways
The Orange and Green Spring Game is in the books.
On Saturday, Florida A&M football held its annual showcase game to preview the 2025 season.
The Rattlers split the teams up, with Orange representing the offense and Green being the defense.
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The game score was kept on a point system, including touchdowns, first downs, turnovers, and defensive stops.
FAMU's offense, the Orange team, came out on top, winning 59-29.
Head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers football team James Colzie coaches during FAMU's annual spring game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, April 12, 2025.
"We did a good job. We put some points on the board, and defense made some sacks," Second-year FAMU head coach James Colzie III told the media after the spring game.
"We're going in the right direction. I'm happy with the group. I'm excited about where we will be in the next few months."
FAMU football's offense shows life, score points after slow start
It was a slow start for the FAMU offense.
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After being consistently stopped, the Rattlers began to pick up their production.
Bryson Martin started at quarterback for FAMU. Tyler Jefferson , Traven Green , and Roman Purcell got snaps under center. Junior Muratovic didn't scrimmage for internal reasons, Colzie said.
The Florida A&M Rattlers football team hold their annual spring game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, April 12, 2025.
"I thought those four guys did as much as they can and did a good job handling the offense," Colzie assessed the quarterbacks.
"I thought [ Jefferson ] as a quarterback stepping in and doing some things, he was able to get some reps that he maybe wasn't going to get today. Happy with him. Bryson Martin, I thought, did a good job," Colzie later added.
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Jefferson led a scoring drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Ritter in the redzone. FAMU running back Thad Franklin Jr. set up the score with a run for about 50 yards.
"All it took was for Big Thad to make the run, and it turned the light on for the offense," Colzie explained.
Green led two scoring drives, too.
The Florida A&M Rattlers football team hold their annual spring game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, April 12, 2025.
First, Bo Summersett , who ran the ball well on Saturday, punched in a touchdown during the redzone situation. Green then found wide receiver Armand Burris over the top to follow.
FAMU football's defense has a strong start, defensive line shines
The FAMU defense came out hot for the Green squad.
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To open Saturday's spring game, the Rattlers got two consecutive sacks that resulted in safeties. The defense had an early 6-0 lead on the offense.
The Florida A&M Rattlers football team hold their annual spring game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, April 12, 2025.
The Rattlers got disruptive by raiding the backfield to stop the quarterback from getting off passes.
"We're a lot better on the defensive front than we may have been last year," Colzie said.
"Antonio Camon (defensive end) got some sacks and did a great job on the run and pass game," Colzie added.
FAMU also forced turnovers, including an interception by transfer defensive back Daylyn Ditson.
FAMU football has a handful of players who starred in spring game
Head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers football team James Colzie coaches during FAMU's annual spring game at Bragg Memorial Stadium Saturday, April 12, 2025.
As mentioned, Jefferson, Martin, and Camon impressed Colzie during Saturday's spring game.
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The FAMU coach added that veteran players Nay'Ron Jenkins , a linebacker, and defensive back Chase Lloyd performed well.
Their performances gave Colzie a glimpse of what kind of players he has on the team as spring football ends.
"I don't want to get too high, but I don't want to get too low with our football team. But I was excited with what I saw," Colzie said. "Offensively, defensively, and our special teams did a good job today."
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
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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 shows some promise in 2025 Orange and Green Spring Game
