Florida A&M football is confident that having key returning players in important position groups will help it succeed in 2025.
On top of that, the Rattlers have recruited pieces for added depth and competition.
FAMU head coach James Colzie III said most of the Rattlers’ talent lies at wide receiver and in the trenches on the offensive and defensive lines through January.
“Those are the three groups that are probably a little ahead of this time,” Colzie said.
Let’s take a look at how those units look for the Rattlers.
FAMU receivers have depth, players with game experience
FAMU’s top receiver, Jamari Gassett, graduated after being one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top receivers last season. Gassett led the Rattlers with 52 catches for 737 yards and seven touchdowns.
With Gassett graduating, his supporting cast is slated to step up.
Quan Lee was the Rattlers’ second option, with 27 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Goldie Lawrence followed with 21 catches for 251 yards and a touchdown.
A’Ceon Cobb’s season was cut short to nine games due to injury, but he was second with four receiving touchdowns for the Rattlers.
Other FAMU receivers, Marquez Bell and Jalen Rogers, will return for the Rattlers, too.
“Our wide receiver group is going to be dynamic. We lost Jamari Gassett, but we got a long list of guys,” Colzie said.
Colzie expects contributions from reserves from last season, such as converted quarterback-to-receiver Ja’Cory Jordan and rising sophomores Armand Burris and Brooks Hickman.
“I feel like Ja’Cory Jordan is going to be special. He didn’t play last year, but he’ll bring some added stuff to the fire,” Colzie said.
FAMU also utilized the NCAA Transfer Portal and picked up former Football Bowl Subdivision players, former Illinois receiver Kenari Wilcher, and Jordin Parker from Western Michigan. Both the Rattler newcomers got playing time at their previous stops.
“Our receivers are in a good spot. I love what they bring to the table,” Colzie said.
FAMU football to return highly-touted players to its offensive line
The Rattlers lost several starting offensive linemen, such as Jalen Goss and TJ Lee.
Goss has started for the Rattlers since 2022 and was an HBCU All-American that year. Lee has been a four-year starter at FAMU since 2021.
However, the Rattlers have some heavy hitters returning to the offensive line.
All-SWAC First Teamers Charles Davis and Ashton Grable will play for FAMU in 2025. Grable was also an NCAA All-HBCU selection in 2024.
Other key rotational pieces, Michael Marshall, Elijah Phillipe, Ricky Taylor, and others, also remain on FAMU’s roster.
“The offensive line, you got two guys that are back that were all-conference and made some All-American lists. We have to fill the void of TJ Lee and Jalen Goss, but we feel like we got those guys here,” Colzie said.
FAMU football adds transfers to join James Ash, other productive players
James Ash emerged as FAMU’s top defensive lineman in 2024, earning All-SWAC Second Team honors for tallying 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Ash’s running mates, James Gardner Jr. and Davion Westmoreland, are back.
Gardner had 6.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles in 2024. Westmoreland led the Rattlers with 4.5 sacks.
“They had to learn a little bit. They took some bumps and bruises, but all those guys are back. James Ash is back, and Davion Westmoreland,” Colzie said. “As they learned throughout the season, they did some good things for us.”
FAMU tapped into the FBS ranks to join the returning defensive linemen by landing DJ Jones from Virginia and Xavier Perkins from Florida State. Alijah Alexander is coming to FAMU from Stetson.
Colzie is impressed with Jones thus far.
“DJ Jones is here. He’s doing a great job. Xavier Perkins and Alijah Alexander ― added to the mix,” Colzie said. “They’re not just fighting for depth. They’re fighting to take a job.”
Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule
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Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic)
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Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic
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Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State
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Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
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Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC)
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Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― at Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)
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Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central
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Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming)
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Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC)
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Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC)
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Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)
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Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC)
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Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic)
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: FAMU football early 2025 roster outlook: What position groups lead Rattlers
