Recruiting local talent has paid dividends for Florida A&M football .
So, the Rattlers continue to follow that script.
On Tuesday night, former Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Kenari Wilcher announced he's transferring to FAMU. Wilcher has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Wilcher is familiar with the Tallahassee area.
He played quarterback for two years at Chiles High. Wilcher transferred to Clewiston High School as a junior and Moore Haven for his senior year.
He became a three-star prospect before electing to play football at Illinois.
Wilcher chose FAMU over offers from Western Kentucky and Missouri State .
At 6-foot, 185 pounds, Wilcher caught eight receptions for 71 yards in his two seasons with the Illini. Wilcher also returned kicks, accruing 493 yards on 23 attempts.
Wilcher joins FAMU's receiver corps that returns key performers from the 2024 season, Quan Lee, A'Ceon Cobb, and Goldie Lawrence .
For kick returners, FAMU Freshman All-American Robert Lockhart III will return for 2025 as Wilcher can join him as a running mate.
Wilcher is FAMU's 11th transfer from a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
Quarterback
Tyler Jefferson, Central Michigan
Running Back
Jamal Hailey, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver
Mekhi Maddox, Lincoln High School (Tallahassee, Florida )
Kenari Wilcher , Illinois
Tight End
Gavin Hill , Florida
Offensive Line
Gozy Okeke ― Iowa Central Community College
Monzell Williams ― Rutgers
Defensive Line
Alijah Alexander, Stetson
DJ Jones, Virginia
Sammy Mitchell IV, Western High School (Davie, Florida)
Xavier Perkins, Florida State
Linebacker
Cormury Butts ― Navarro College
Justice Cross, Murray State
Defensive Back
Patrick Alston Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Chase Dexter, Air Force Preparatory
Daylyn Ditson, East Carolina
TeQuan Latimore, Charlotte
Jalik Thomas, Appalachian State
Dion Villiers, Tennessee State
Kicker
Andrew Abu-Akel, Western Michigan
Cooper Badics, Edward Waters
Punter
Alexander Davis , Mississippi Valley State
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 transfer portal: Kenari Wilcher returning to Tallahassee
