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FAMU football's Orange and Green Spring Game to serve as a debut for new coordinators
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- FAMU football's Orange and Green Spring Game to serve as a debut for new coordinators
Florida A&M's upcoming Orange and Green Spring Game will provide the first look at the 2025 football team.
It's also vital for coaches to evaluate themselves, too.
Saturday's spring game will allow for fans to get a first impression of the Rattlers' new coordinators.
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FAMU head coach James Colzie III made three coordinator changes for his 2025 team this offseason.
In March, Henry Burris was promoted from co-offensive coordinator to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and he maintained his role as quarterbacks coach. This month, FAMU announced Kenwick Thompson , formerly UAB's assistant head coach and linebackers coach, as its new defensive coordinator.
Florida A&M has its first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
"First and foremost, those two caliber of guys are great men and have great minds," Colzie said after the Rattlers' 12th spring practice on Thursday.
"They're going to allow us offensively and defensively to be successful."
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FAMU football will also have a new special teams coordinator, Kevin Weston, who also coaches the nickelbacks. Weston previously served as Norfolk State 's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
Saturday's spring game will highlight the five weeks of work the FAMU coaches have put in with players and the new wrinkles they bring to the team.
"We're looking for guys who can execute in a game-type situation," Thompson said. "It's exciting for the players and for the public to get to see what we've been working on."
FAMU football's new coordinators playing vital roles in setting groundwork for 2025 season
All of FAMU's coaches are tasked with their unique projects.
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For example, Burris will help assess and decide who will quarterback the Rattlers for the 2025 season.
Florida A&M assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Henry Burris looks on during the Rattlers' first spring football practice of 2025 on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 7, 2025.
Burris said it's a three-man race between Tyler Jefferson , Bryson Martin, and Junior Muratovic. He added that Traven Green and Roman Purcell have also made plays this spring.
"We always try to press to be the best we can be. And our guys are doing a fantastic job," Burris said. "We want to see who's going to finish out strong. It's been a great room to work with. Each of them has a strong skill set, and you'll be able to see them on full display on Saturday."
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On the other hand, Thompson brings a refreshed outlook to the FAMU defense as he prepares for his first season with the Rattlers.
He's impressed with the "effort" of the FAMU defense, which returns starters from last season, such as defensive linemen James Ash and Davion Westmoreland , alongside linebacker Nay'Ron Jenkins .
"Guys have been working extremely hard and paying attention to the detail," Thompson said.
Thompson wants to see how his defense relays messages across the field with crowd noise from the FAMU crowd at Saturday's spring game.
"Everything that we do is intentional to get ready for next fall. So, we're going to practice how we approach the game, execution, and communication with noise," he said.
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FAMU football to have all eyes on them at Saturday's Orange and Green Spring Game
The crowd will be rocking, and the FAMU's Marching 100 band will be tuned up on Saturday.
FAMU football's Orange and Green Spring Game kicks off at 4 p.m. on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium this Saturday.
"This is what it's all about. It's going to give us an opportunity to see when the lights come on, do our brightest line shine? We're looking forward to seeing who those guys will be," Burris said.
"You want to be able to make plays and create those memories as we go into the summer period and get ready for the fall camp because that's the next time that we'll put the pads on and things get serious," he added.
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Florida A&M Orange and Green Spring Football Game Information
Florida A&M head coach James Colzie leads the Rattlers during the FAMU Spring Game on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
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When: Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m.
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Where: Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium
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Tickets: Purchase Here
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: Florida A&M football spring game preview: New coordinators to debut
