FAMU football spring practice preview: Potential storylines to follow for the Rattlers

Posted by author March 5, 2025 Football

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Florida A&M football starts spring practice on March 7th.
The Orange and Green Spring Game, scheduled for April 12th, will offer a first look at the 2025 Rattlers.
The Rattlers have a new offensive coordinator in Henry Burris and must replace quarterback Daniel Richardson.
Defensively, FAMU looks to improve and find a new coordinator after Milton Patterson joined the New England Patriots.

It’s about that time.

On Friday, Florida A&M football will get the first glimpse of its 2025 team when spring practice begins.

Led by second-year head coach James Colzie III, the Rattlers will have 15 spring practices, which will run from March 7 to Wednesday, April 16. FAMU football’s Orange and Green Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at 4 p.m. on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

That’s plenty of time for many developments from FAMU football.

Let’s look at the most intriguing and possible storylines for the Rattlers this spring.

How FAMU football will set foundation with new offensive coordinator, quarterback

The Rattlers’ offense will look different this spring.

Firstly, Henry Burris was promoted to the Rattlers’ offensive coordinator after spending last season as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Burris replaces former FAMU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joseph Henry.

Burris will keep his role as quarterbacks coach, too.

Last season, Burris called the Rattlers’ plays for their final two games versus Bethune-Cookman and Alabama A&M. FAMU averaged 35 points per game, up from the Rattlers’ 24.5 scoring average throughout the season.

One of Burris’ first tasks as FAMU’s offensive coordinator will be helping decide who will quarterback the Rattlers for 2025 to replace the graduated Daniel Richardson, who won the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and HBCU Legacy Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player award last month.

FAMU has landed transfer quarterbacks Tyler Jefferson from Central Michigan and Roman Purcell from Indiana. Both have gotten social media shoutouts from Colzie for their performances during FAMU’s offseason workouts and drills.

Veteran reserve quarterback Junior Muratovic is also still on FAMU’s roster.

Other changes for FAMU’s offense are new running backs coach Kevin Maurice, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Cedric Williams, and passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Vincent Jefferies Jr.

FAMU football’s defense may look a little different

FAMU will have a new defensive coordinator after Milton Patterson became a defensive assistant for the New England Patriots.

Patterson, who was on FAMU’s staff since 2021, spent the 2024 season as the Rattlers’ defensive coordinator. He was also the linebackers coach.

The Rattlers experienced some struggles defensively last season, especially against the run, after having the second-best unit in the nation in 2023.

FAMU returns some key defensive pieces headlined by 2024 All-SWAC selection defensive tackle James Ash. The Rattlers’ sack leader, defensive end Davion Westmoreland (4.5 sacks), and the team’s second-leading tackler Nay’Ron Jenkins (73 tackles) are also back.

FAMU lost starters, defensive end Allen Smith Jr., cornerback Kendall Bohler, and safety Deco Wilson to graduation.

Other changes on FAMU’s defensive staff is Kevin Weston, who will coach the nickelbacks. Weston is also the special teams coordinator.

FAMU football’s spring practice is an opportunity for stars to arise

FAMU football has returning players who showed flashes last season.

On offense, Rattlers running back Thad Franklin Jr. had a late-season surge of rushing 33 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns in the final two weeks. Another name to know is Quan Lee, who will have a chance to become the top wide receiver target for FAMU.

Defensively, Jenkins starred at linebacker as a first-time starter. James Gardner Jr. is also worth some attention after collecting 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks on FAMU’s defensive line.

For newcomers, FAMU landed 27 players, with 15 coming from Football Bowl Subdivision schools. That’s the second most in the Football Championship Subdivision behind Sacramento State.

Newcomers who may shine for the Rattlers during the spring are wide receiver Kenari Wilcher (Illinois), tight end Gavin Hill (Florida), defensive lineman DJ Jones (Virginia), linebacker Justice Cross (Murray State), and defensive back Tequan Latimore (Charlotte).

Florida A&M Spring Football Practice Schedule

Friday, March 7
Tuesday, March 18
Thursday, March 20
Friday, March 21
Tuesday, March 25
Thursday, March 27 ― Scrimmage
Friday, March 28
Tuesday, April 1
Thursday, April 3 ― Scrimmage
Friday, April 4
Tuesday, April 8
Thursday, April 10
Saturday, April 12 ― Orange and Green Spring Game
Monday, April 14
Wednesday, April 16

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.