hopes to have a high-octane offense this year.
But, the unit will look a little different as the Rattlers make headway to repeat as Southwestern Athletic Conference and Black College Football National Champions.
The Rattlers offense is now under the supervision of assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Joseph Henry. This season, Henry will begin calling the Rattlers’ plays.
Backing up Henry is newly hired co-offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Henry Burris alongside position coaches Antonio Carter, Casey Warming, and Marcus Windham and student assistants TJ Demas and LeJohn Howard.
Here’s a preview of what the FAMU offense has in store for when it’s time to kick off the 2024 football season at Atlanta’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Norfolk State on Aug. 24.
A look at FAMU football's starting quarterback options
Which direction will the Rattlers go to replace former starting quarterback and 2023 Black College Co-Player of the Year Jeremy Moussa?
FAMU signal callers Junior Muratovic and Daniel Richardson are amidst a quarterback battle to determine who will lead the offense on its first play of the season.
Muratovic, a redshirt junior, has two career starts, and stats read a 54 completion rate, 311 passing yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Muratovic has spent his entire college career at FAMU, arriving in 2021.
Richardson, a grad student, transferred to FAMU last December after tenures at Central Michigan and Florida Atlantic. Richardson’s career stats are a 61 completion percentage, 7,392 yards, 56 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, and a 24-21 Sun Bowl victory over Washington State as CMU’s starting quarterback in 2021.
FAMU football has playmakers to help light up scoreboards
FAMU’s rushing game resurged last season, from ranked last in the SWAC in 2022 to seventh in 2023.
However, the Rattlers will have to fill the void of four-year starting running back Terrell Jennings, who won Most Valuable Player honors for the Florida Classic and SWAC Championship in 2023. Jennings is now a member of the New England Patriots’ 90-man roster.
Kelvin Dean Jr. headlines FAMU’s returners in the backfield. Dean dazzled the Celebration Bowl audience on the way to winning the game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.
After transferring to FAMU from FAU, Dean rushed 73 times for 391 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. He also caught 11 passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns.
Helping out Dean in the running back room will likely be Levontai 'Bo' Summersett, a returning redshirt freshman, and senior transfer power back Thad Franklin Jr., who played at Miami and UL Monroe before FAMU.
Out wide, Jamari Gassett returns as the most experienced Rattlers receiver from the 2023 season.
Gassett waited his turn behind graduated FAMU receivers Jah’Marae Sheread and New York Jets 90-man roster member Marcus Riley. However, Gassett made the most of his opportunities and notched 24 receptions for 320 yards and three touchdowns for the Rattlers.
FAMU’s receiving room has many new faces, such as transfers Marquez Bell (Old Dominion), A’Ceon Cobb (FAU), Goldie Lawrence (Florida State), and Jaylen Ward (Middle Tennessee State).
FAMU’s tight ends are the ultimate opportunists, making timely receptions for the Rattlers when needed the most.
With former FAMU tight end Kamari Young graduating, the Rattlers will look to his former running mates Koby Gross and Jeremiah Pruitte. In 2023, Gross had nine receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while Pruitte had 13 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.
The Rattlers tight ends are also bulked up with Karter Johnson, who started four games for Pitt and compiled 12 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
FAMU football returns key pieces to its offensive line
FAMU’s offensive line returns many vital pieces from last season.
Headlining the Rattlers is 2023 All-SWAC selection Ashton Grable, voted as the SWAC’s top interior offensive lineman by HERO Sports.
Jalen Goss, who had a season-ending injury after four games in 2023, is rejoining the Rattlers lineup this season. Goss was a Boxtorow HBCU All-American in 2022.
Another key FAMU returner is TJ Lee, a four-year starter for the Rattlers as a hybrid center and guard.
After losing starting guard Kardell Thomas to the NCAA Transfer Portal, FAMU has beefed up its frontline with transfers Elijah Phillipe from Troy, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade from TCU, and Christian Wingfield from Austin Peay.
FAMU has more returning offensive linemen who could be key in 2024, such as Charles Davis, Michael Marshall, Janik Ogunlade, Cesar Reyes, and Ricky Taylor.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule
Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., ABC
Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 7 at Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Sept. 21 at Troy, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network
Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO
Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
Nov. 30: FCS Playoffs Begin
Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2
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 atgdthomas@tallahassee.comor on the app formerly known as Twitter@3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Previewing the Rattlers' offense for the 2024 season
