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FAMU football's Thad Franklin Jr. named top SWAC running back in preseason honors
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- FAMU football's Thad Franklin Jr. named top SWAC running back in preseason honors
Florida A&M football has eight players who've earned preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference honors .
Headlining the Rattlers on the offensive first team is running back Thad Franklin Jr. The grad student's nod comes after he rushed 120 times for 653 yards and five touchdowns during the 2024 season.
Florida A&M Rattlers' running back Thad Franklin, Jr. (23) runs the ball during the game against the Jackson State Tigers in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
Franklin's top game last season was his record-breaking Florida Classic performance when he had 26 carries for 195 yards and three touchdowns in FAMU's 41-38 victory over rivals Bethune-Cookman.
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Also on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team is a pair of FAMU offensive linemen Ashton Grable and Charles Davis. Grable was an NCAA All-HBCU selection and All-SWAC First Teamer last year. Davis also picked up All-SWAC First Team honors in 2024 .
Defensively for the Rattlers, defensive end Davion Westmoreland, who led FAMU with eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, is on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. He's joined by FAMU's returning lead tackler, linebacker Nay'Ron Jenkins , and cornerback TJ Huggins , who had a team-high three interceptions a season ago.
FAMU defensive lineman James Gardner Jr. and defensive back Jameel Sanders made the SWAC's preseason second team.
FAMU football will be at SWAC Media Day in Birmingham on Wednesday, July 16. Second-year head coach James Colzie III, Grable, and Westmoreland will represent the program.
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The Rattlers' 2025 season begins in the Orange Blossom Classic as they face the Howard Bison on Aug. 30 at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
SWAC Preseason Honors
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Offensive Player of the Year: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
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Defensive Player of the Year: Ckelby Givens, Southern
All-SWAC First Team Offense
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Quarterback: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
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Running Back: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State
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Running Back: Thad Franklin Jr., Florida A&M
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Offensive Lineman: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State
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Offensive Lineman: Charles Davis, Florida A&M
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Offensive Lineman: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M
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Offensive Lineman: Ronald Brown, Alcorn State
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Offensive Lineman: Desmond Daniels, Alabama State
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Wide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson State
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Wide Receiver: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State
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Tight End: Marvin Landy, Jackson State
All-SWAC First Team Defense
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Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern
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Defensive Lineman: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State
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Defensive Lineman: Bryce Cage, Grambling State
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Defensive Lineman: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M
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Linebacker: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State
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Linebacker: Vincent Paige Jr., Southern
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Linebacker: Nay'Ron Jenkins, Florida A&M
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Defensive Back: Keane Lewis, Alabama State
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Defensive Back: Antwone Watts, Bethune-Cookman
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Defensive Back: TJ Huggins, Florida A&M
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Defensive Back: Horacio Johnson, Southern
All-SWAC First Team Specialist
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Place Kicker: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State
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Punter: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State
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Return Specialist: Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State
All-SWAC Second Team Offense
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Quarterback: Cam Ransom, Bethune-Cookman
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Running Back: Lamagea McDowell, Prairie View A&M
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Running Back: BJ Curry, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
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Offensive Lineman: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State
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Offensive Lineman: Cameron Smith, Alabama State
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Offensive Lineman: Tahj Martin, Grambling State
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Offensive Lineman: Dezmond Penn, Alabama State
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Offensive Lineman: Tyrell Lawrence, Alabama A&M
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Wide Receiver: Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman
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Wide Receiver: Trenton Leary, Texas Southern
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Tight End: Dupree Fuller, Southern
All-SWAC Second Team Defense
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Defensive Lineman: Damarcus Thompson, Texas Southern
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Defensive Lineman: Adrian Hall, Bethune-Cookman
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Defensive Lineman: James Gardner Jr., Florida A&M
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Defensive Lineman: Nick Glenn, Alabama A&M
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Linebacker: Reid Pulliam, Jackson State
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Linebacker: Ashton Taylor, Jackson State
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Linebacker: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-Cookman
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Defensive Back: Shamar Hawkins, Jackson State
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Defensive Back: Blake Davis, Grambling State
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Defensive Back: Herman Brister III, Southern
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Defensive Back: Jameel Sanders, Florida A&M
All-SWAC Second Team Specialist
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Place Kicker: Trey Glymph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
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Punter: Jeremy Ramirez, Texas Southern
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 RB Thad Franklin, 7 others named to SWAC preseason team
