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FAMU football loses All-SWAC defensive lineman James Ash to the Auburn Tigers
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- FAMU football loses All-SWAC defensive lineman James Ash to the Auburn Tigers
Florida A&M football has a significant void to fill on its defensive line.
On Monday, April 21, James Ash announced that he was leaving the Rattlers to commit to the Auburn Tigers .
The Tampa native has been at FAMU since the 2022 season after transferring from Wake Forest.
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Ash was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Second Team performer for the 7-5 Rattlers in 2024. He picked up 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks as a redshirt senior.
For his career at FAMU, Ash had 86 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and even an interception.
Florida A&M football player James Ash (0) poses in the locker room with the trophies the team won during the 2023 season.
Transferring from FAMU to Auburn allows Ash to move from the Football Championship Subdivision level to one of the Power Four conferences, as the Tigers compete in the Southeastern Conference.
Losing Ash to Auburn only adds to FAMU's priority of landing a 'big time' defensive lineman through the NCAA Transfer Portal .
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The transfer portal's spring window closes for player entry on Friday, April 25. However, teams can recruit throughout the summer.
The Rattlers' 2025 season opener is set for Saturday, Aug. 30, versus the Howard Bison in the Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
Florida A&M Football 2025 Recruiting Class
Quarterback
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RJ Hayes, Marianna High School
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Tyler Jefferson, Central Michigan
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Roman Purcell, Indiana
Running Back
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Treavis Jones, Coffeyville Community College
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Jamal Hailey, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver
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Jacobi Hall, Marianna High School
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Kenyon Holden, Marianna High School
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Moses White, Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Florida)
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Tyreik Thorpe, Iowa Central Community College
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Kenari Wilcher, Illinois
Tight End
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Gavin Hill, Florida
Offensive Line
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David Gardner, Dr. Philips High School (Orlando, Florida)
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Trenterius Lovett, Coffeyville Community College
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Gozy Okeke, Iowa Central Community College
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Mozell Williams, Rutgers
Defensive Line
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Alijah Alexander, Stetson
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DJ Jones, Virginia
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Sammy Mitchell IV, Western High School (Davie, Florida)
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Jahon Myers, Kennesaw State
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Xavier Perkins, Florida State
Linebacker
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Justice Cross, Murray State
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Ryan Hall, Northwest High School (Germantown, Maryland)
Defensive Back
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Jayden Bradford, Florida State
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Isiah Davis, Connecticut
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Chase Dexter, Air Force Preparatory
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Daylyn Ditson, East Carolina
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TeQuan Latimore, Charlotte
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Caleb McKenzie, South Dakota
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Isaiah Murphy Sink, Jones High School (Orlando, Florida)
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Jalik Thomas, Appalachian State
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Dion Villiers, Tennessee State
Kicker
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Andrew Abu-Akel, Western Michigan
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Cooper Badics, Edward Waters
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Emilio Bacardi, Lake Mary High School
Punter
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Alexander Davis, Mississippi Valley State
Long Snapper
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Alex Moscoso, Florida Memorial
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: James Ash, an All-SWAC DL at FAMU football, transferring to Auburn
