You only get one chance to make a first impression.
That statement resonates with Florida A&M football’s transfer players during their first training camp.
Six practices in, the Rattlers are raving about their newcomers of around 50 players, with a vast majority joining the team through the NCAA Transfer Portal.
“All the transfers that have come up to the standard to put in the work that we need so we all can achieve the same goal,” said Jalen Goss, who’s been an All-American talent on FAMU’s offensive line since 2022.
“I look forward to seeing where we’re going with them.”
After winning the Black College Football National Championship last December, FAMU was hit hard by the transfer portal this offseason. The departures significantly impacted the defensive line.
Former All-SWAC defensive linemen Anthony Dunn Jr. and Gentle Hunt left FAMU for the transfer portal. Dunn landed at Toledo; Hunt at Illinois.
Responding to the portal losses, the Rattlers identified who they feel are capable replacements: Cameron Donald from Kennesaw State and Davion Westmoreland from Kansas.
“In our recruiting, we wanted to duplicate those types of players,” said FAMU head football coach James Colzie III. “They both play hard and fit what we want and need to do on defense.
“So far, so good. They’re doing a really, really good job for us.”
“It means a lot. I have a huge respect for those guys,” Donald said of Goss and Colzie’s comments.
“I haven’t done anything here yet. But I tried to prove myself as much as I could at summer workouts. I think I’ve garnered some of the respect of the older guys here. Just trying to do the right thing for them.”
Last season, FAMU’s ‘Dark Cloud Defense’ finished third in the nation for tackles for loss and 10th in sacks on the way to landing the Football Championship Subdivision’s second ranking for total defense.
Donald and Westmoreland join the disruptive defensive line, including the Rattlers’ top returners James Ash and Allen Smith Jr.
“They pick up right where we left off last year,” FAMU defensive coordinator Milton Patterson said of Donald and Westmoreland’s additions. “I don’t want to say that’s the starting line. But these guys have a good place at the front right now.”
FAMU transfers excited for next chapter of college football careers
After his 2020 graduation from Griffin High School in Georgia, Westmoreland began his college football career at Hutchinson Community College, where he earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors. In 2022, Westmoreland landed a spot on the Kansas Jayhawks football team.
He committed to FAMU this May.
“It’s been a journey,” Westmoreland said. “FAMU wanted to give me a chance and told me I could come here, and they’d let me eat. That was it. They sold me. I want to come here, showcase my talents, and show FAMU what I can do.”
Donald comes from a small city, Pelzer, South Carolina.
His arrival at FAMU, one of the nation’s top teams in football game attendance, is a far cry from his hometown of 1,422 people.
“I love the culture here and the positivity of the coaching staff. The alumni ― everybody is just so supportive here,” Donald said. “That’s just what separates [FAMU] from everybody else. It’s been a great experience so far.”
Now, at FAMU, what stands out to Westmoreland is a “family” environment. For example, per Westmoreland’s Instagram, he’s already landed a partnership with the Patrick Youth Development Foundation, headed by FAMU alumnus Eli Patrick.
“It’s a fresh start,” Westmoreland said. “Every day I come out here, I want to prove myself, get better, and let my teammates know they can depend on me when facing adversity.”
FAMU football has its seventh of 25 training camp practices on Thursday.
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: FAMU football transfers making quite the impression at training camp
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