Florida A&M football has officially begun getting physical.
On Saturday, the Rattlers added shoulder pads for their third practice, allowing players to make contact for the first time at preseason training camp for the 2024 season.
“We took it up another level because we had a couple of extra fights than we normally do. That’s normal when the pads go on,” said FAMU head coach James Colzie III.
“We have to make sure we take care of each other, and I didn’t see a good job of that today. The pads were on. We were a little feisty. But overall, I thought it was still a pretty good day.”
The Rattlers last displayed their physicality in tackle football at their Orange and Green Spring Game.
That was 105 days ago, on April 13.
So, FAMU has longed to hear the pads clink against each other.
However, FAMU linebacker Aric Horne, expected to land a starting spot this season, wants the Rattlers to know how to stay even-tempered at practices regardless of shells or padded meetings.
“It felt good to get back in pads. It’s been a while since the springtime,” Horne said.
“You know things are when it gets rowdy out here. It’s just about finding our composure.”
FAMU football gets first glimpse of how team performs with pads
The first day of pads let Colzie assess his team in a live, 11-on-11 setting.
While the first-year Rattlers coach was satisfied, he also knows his inaugural FAMU football team has improvements to make with 22 more practices left before the season opener against Norfolk State at Aug. 24’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta.
“The offensive line and defensive line did a pretty good job. Our safeties played well,” Colzie said. “Our quarterbacks, at times, made a couple of bad decisions. They were trying to force some things in.
“Overall, we did some good things. But, we had some bad things as well.”
FAMU transfer defensive back Jameel Sanders impressed Colzie on Saturday.
Sanders arrived at FAMU after stints at Lackawanna College and South Florida.
The redshirt junior Sanders is amongst a recruiting class of approximately 50 players, and Colzie says that they are improving.
“Jameel Sanders’ intensity level rose a little bit. He was a little bit more excited than he was the last couple of days,” Colzie said. “We have a physical bunch that moves around well.”
FAMU football looks to ‘raise the bar’ as first week of practices concludes
After three practices, the most noticeable improvement to Horne is the Rattlers’ togetherness.
The graduate student looks for his team to make steady headway as training camp progresses.
“Getting all the guys together. Unity,” Horne said. “Just keep stacking days on top of days and getting better every day.”
FAMU will have its fourth practice of 25 on Sunday.
Sunday’s practice is closed.
“We got to continue to raise the bar. It wasn’t our best practice. I’ve been around some good practices my last two or three years,” Colzie said.
“Today was a good day. But hopefully, once we get a chance to evaluate, we can make some improvements for tomorrow.”
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 gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here’s how FAMU football performed in its 1st padded practice of 2024
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