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FAMU football's James Gardner, Justin Bostic withdraw from transfer portal
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- FAMU football's James Gardner, Justin Bostic withdraw from transfer portal
Despite a roster flip and a new head coach, Florida A&M football will still have key holdover players from previous seasons.
On Monday, Jan. 5, defensive end James Gardner Jr. and defensive back Justin Bostic withdrew their names from the NCAA Transfer Portal to remain with the Rattlers and play for new head coach Quinn Gray Sr.
Florida A&M defensive back Justin Bostic makes a hit on Alabama A&M Bulldogs wide receiver Donivan Wright in a Southwestern Athletic Conference football game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Both were starters and rotational players during the 2024 and 2025 seasons under former head coach James Colzie III, who was dismissed on Dec. 8, 2025, after two seasons, a 12-12 overall record, and a 5-7 mark last year, the program's first losing season since 2017 .
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Over the past two seasons, Gardner has tallied 59 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. He's a graduate student.
Meanwhile, Bostic just finished his redshirt sophomore year and has 32 tackles and five pass deflections in two active seasons.
Gardner and Bostic repledging to FAMU football comes after the Rattlers got a haul of commits, led by Albany State quarterback Isaiah Knowles , the 2024 and 2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The Rattlers have around 20 players from last season in the transfer portal looking to play elsewhere in 2026.
Florida A&M football NCAA Transfer Portal
Who's Coming?
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Since Quinn Gray hire on Dec. 23, 2025
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Isaiah Knowles, Quarterback, Albany State
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Corey 'Deuce' Petty, Wide Receiver, Albany State
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Xavier Herndon, Tight End, Albany State
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Terrell James, Defensive Lineman, East Mississippi Community College
Who's Leaving?
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Tyler Jefferson, Quarterback
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RJ Johnson III, Quarterback
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Jett Peddy, Quarterback
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Jamal Hailey, Running Back
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Armand Burris, Wide Receiver
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Ja'Cory Jordan, Wide Receiver
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Goldie Lawrence, Wide Receiver
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Jalen 'Speedy' Rogers, Wide Receiver
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Kenari Wilcher, Wide Receiver
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Miles Campbell, Tight End
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Andrew Ritter, Tight End
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David Gardner, Offensive Lineman
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Davion Westmoreland, Defensive End
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Ah'Mare Lee, Cornerback
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Daniel Porto, Kicker
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Jack Carson-Wentz, Long Snapper
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 DE James Gardner, DB Justin Bostic won't transfer
