Week two of Florida A&M football’s training camp is underway.
Two is a number the Rattlers are grappling with in their preseason practices before kicking off the season on Aug. 24 against Norfolk State in Atlanta’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Despite winning the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and Celebration Bowl last December, SWAC voters predicted the Rattlers to finish second in the East division behind the Alabama State Hornets two weeks ago at the league’s media day.
The preseason rank of FAMU football could be a byproduct of the Rattlers having a new head coach, James Colzie III, who replaces Willie Simmons after six years. Additionally, FAMU’s 2024 roster includes nearly 50 new players.
Even under a new regime, Rattlers look to debunk all the doubters by claiming another Black College Football National Championship this season.
“It’s most definitely a motivating factor,” FAMU offensive lineman Jalen Goss said after Tuesday’s fifth practice. “Everyone thinks just because the coach is gone, we’re rebuilding. We’re still the same guys that we were from last year.”
Not winning the SWAC East would make FAMU ineligible for Dec. 7’s SWAC Championship game. And if the Rattlers don’t win the SWAC like last year, they cannot represent the league at Dec. 14’s Celebration Bowl, which decides the Black College Football National Champion.
However, despite the number two SWAC East prediction, the Rattlers are atop HBCUs in Boxtorow and Lindy’s Sports rankings.
“Well, I had us voted third. So, I guess the guys think we’re going to be a little better than we think,” Colzie said with a chuckle. “But obviously, it’s preseason. There’s nothing to motivate our guys. They will come out, work hard, and understand what’s at stake.
“Regarding FAMU, we’re going to make sure to take care of what FAMU has to take care of. Hopefully, we’ll not be second or third when we end the season. We want to be first.”
‘We’re not two’: FAMU football looks to prove SWAC voters wrong
Over the past two seasons, the Rattlers have turned some respectable performances against high-end talent.
In 2022, FAMU traveled to North Carolina minus nearly 30 players and challenged the Tar Heels before faltering 56-24. In 2023, the Rattlers visited the South Florida Bulls and narrowly lost 38-25.
Representing the SWAC well in those games is something FAMU defensive lineman James Ash feels is a calling card that should only add to the respect of the league’s defending champions.
“We’re top two and not two,” Ash said.
“We’ve always been those ones who are ready to compete and never back down from competition ― UNC to USF ― any of them. We gave our best fight. We’re ready to do it whenever with any group we got.”
FAMU had seven players get Preseason All-SWAC honors, with four making the first team and three getting second-team honors.
However, the Rattlers feel they had some players snubbed out of the honor.
“There were a couple of guys I thought should’ve made the first-team all-preseason team,” Colzie said.
Goss, a 2022 HBCU All-America selection, didn’t make a Preseason All-SWAC team. Nor did Goss’ fellow offensive lineman TJ Lee, who started as a hybrid center and guard for the Rattlers since the 2021 season when he was a true freshman.
Goss, returning from a season-ending injury in 2023, is ready to prove he’s the same player from 2022 that garnered All-American and All-SWAC honors.
“It’s on me to show the people who are voting that I’m back,” Goss said. “I battled my injury last year. It’s my comeback season. I have to show everybody I can do it twice and am consistent.”
FAMU’s ‘Dark Cloud Defense’ will look to Ash as one of its anchors in 2024.
HERO Sports tabbed Ash as the SWAC’s top returning interior defensive lineman and No. 19 in the nation. Ash finished 2023 with 32 tackles, six tackles for loss, and an interception in 2023.
Still, he didn’t get a Preseason All-SWAC nod.
“How that work? I don’t know,” Ash said with a shrug. “It’s fuel in my fire. I’m ready to go. I’m pumped for this.”
FAMU continues fall training camp football practice on Wednesday.
It’ll be the Rattlers’ sixth of 25 practices ahead of the 2024 season.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule
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Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., ABC
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Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
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Sept. 7 at Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network
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Sept. 21 at Troy, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
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Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
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Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
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Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network
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Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
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Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+
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Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
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Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO
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Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
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Nov. 30: FCS Playoffs Begin
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Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2
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Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12 p.m., ABC
BOLD = SWAC
* = Neutral Site
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at
