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FAMU football turning to co-offensive coordinator, QB coach Henry Burris to call plays
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- FAMU football turning to co-offensive coordinator, QB coach Henry Burris to call plays
Florida A&M head football coach James Colzie III is making changes to his staff.
At Tuesday's practice, Colzie told media that co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Henry Burris will call the Rattlers ' plays for their remaining two games versus Bethune-Cookman this Saturday and Alabama A&M on Nov. 29.
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"Coach Burris has assumed playcalling duties for the rest of the year," Colzie said. "But we're not changing anything offensively. We're just keeping our gameplan the way it's supposed to be ― keep it simple, get the ball to our playmakers, and then allow them to make plays."
Florida A&M quarterbacks coach Henry Burris coaches up campers at James Colzie III's prospect camp at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Thursday, June 20, 2024.
FAMU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joseph Henry previously oversaw playcalling duties. Henry, on FAMU's staff since 2022, wasn't at practice on Tuesday.
"We didn't change coordinators. We just changed who's calling the plays," Colzie said. "Just trying to get a shot in the arm to our guys and making sure our guys are continuing to play with confidence and move in that direction."
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The decision to change play-callers comes after the Rattlers faltered in two consecutive weeks to Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents Prairie View A&M (31-12) two weeks ago and Mississippi Valley State (24-21) last Saturday .
FAMU is ranked third in total offense and seventh in scoring offense (22.5 points per game) out of the SWAC's 12 teams.
FAMU football holds a 5-5 overall record with a 3-3 mark in the SWAC ahead of its annual Florida Classic rivalry game versus Bethune-Cookman this Saturday at Orlando's Camping World Stadium.
FAMU and Bethune-Cookman kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
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Who is FAMU football's new playcaller Henry Burris?
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end/outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (45) tries to get past offensive lineman Will Richardson Jr. (76) to get to offensive quality control coach Henry Burris filling in as quarterback during one-on-one drills at Monday's training camp. The Jacksonville Jaguars held training camp Monday, August 1, 2022, at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville Knight Campus practice fields on Atlantic Blvd.
Burris joined FAMU football's coaching staff this offseason , replacing former head coach Willie Simmons, who oversaw the quarterbacks. Burris helped proctor the offseason quarterback battle between Junior Muratovic and eventual starter Daniel Richardson , whose statistics are amongst the best in the Football Championship Subdivision.
A Canadian Football League Hall of Famer, Burris has been around the game on the highest levels. Collegiately, the Spiro, Oklahoma native was one of the Temple Owls greatest quarterbacks, as he's near the top of many of the program's quarterback statistics.
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Burris, 49, briefly played in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears before his Hall of Fame CFL career, which included winning three Grey Cups and two Most Outstanding Player Awards.
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 22: Henry Burris #10 of the Chicago Bears is chased by Mark Fields #58 of the Carolina Panthers on December 22, 2002 at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)
Burris retired from playing football in 2017.
In coaching, Burris has been on the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars , and Los Angeles Rams staff in various roles, such as being an offensive quality coach.
Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman ― Florida Classic: Week 13, SWAC
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU
Tickets: Purchase Here
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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 Co-OC, QB coach Henry Burris will call plays for rest of 2024 season
