FAMU football 2025 training camp primer: What to know for when the Rattlers take the field
Rattler players reported to Tallahassee on Wednesday, July 30, and had preliminary training camp meetings with coaches before the team's first practice.
The Rattlers, head coached by James Colzie III, are returning from posting a 7-5 record during the 2024 season.
Last year, FAMU had signature victories over Black College Football National Champion runners-up South Carolina State and beat Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic for the fourth consecutive season.
However, the Rattlers were upset at Southwestern Athletic Conference's worst team, Mississippi Valley State, to end their 23-game home winning streak and lost to Black College Football National Champions Jackson State.
FAMU opens its 12-game regular season schedule on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m. versus Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
Year two could be Colzie's and the Rattlers' biggest leap.
And now, FAMU football is preparing to do the groundwork to rebound from last season, starting with Friday's opening practice.
How many preseason training camp practices will FAMU football have in 2025?
The Rattlers will practice 20 times, including two scrimmages from Friday, Aug. 1, until Saturday, Aug. 23, leading into the season opener versus the Howard Bison.
FAMU football's 2025 preseason training camp the prelude to a bounce-back season?
The Rattlers went 7-5 last season in Colzie's first year as head coach.
It was a season removed from when FAMU football, then led by current Florida International coach Willie Simmons, defeated Howard in the Celebration Bowl to claim the program's 16th Black College National Championship.
Seven wins are FAMU's lowest win total since the 2018 season, when the Rattlers finished 6-5.
The SWAC picked the Rattlers to finish second in the East division behind the defending league and HBCU football champions, Jackson State. The prediction means FAMU is expected to have a similar season to last year.
FAMU football has many returning starters, SWAC honorees at 2025 training camp
FAMU has eight preseason All-SWAC selections on the team this year.
Thad Franklin Jr., running back, headlines the Rattlers on offense on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. His blockers, Charles Davis and Ashton Grable, join him on the first team.
Edge rusher Davion Westmoreland, linebacker Nay'Ron Jenkins, and cornerback TJ Huggins made the SWAC's preseason defensive first team.
Defensive lineman James Gardner Jr. and defensive back Jameel Sanders round out the Rattlers' preseason SWAC picks as defensive second teamers.
FAMU football's 2025 preseason training camp will have some heated position battles
FAMU's quarterback competition will headline the Rattlers' preseason training camp this year.
The Rattlers have a handful of quarterbacks entering practices, including transfers Tyler Jefferson from Central Michigan, RJ Johnson III out of Toledo, and former Long Beach City College signal caller Jett Petty. FAMU also has Lawrence Wright IV, a reserve quarterback from the Florida Gators, but he is also listed as an athlete, meaning he could play multiple positions.
The Rattlers' returning quarterbacks are Traven Green and Bryson Martin, who sat behind last year's starter Daniel Richardson.
Newly promoted offensive coordinator Henry Burris, who's also the quarterbacks coach, will closely watch the battle to help determine FAMU's 2025 starting signal caller.
Other spots up for grabs during the Rattlers' camp could be the top wide receiver, the defensive end spot opposite from Westmoreland, cornerback, and kicker.
Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule
Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN Network
Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando's Camping World Stadium)
Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football 2025 training camp: Position battles, roster intel, more
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