James Colzie III is still assessing his inaugural Florida A&M football team.
On Saturday, the Rattlers had their second scrimmage at the 14th practice of fall training camp on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The scrimmage was special teams-focused. Colzie said the Rattlers worked about 29 snaps that explored punting, kicking, and coverages, among other special teams nuances.
“We tried to cover every single area just to make sure we didn’t leave any stone unturned,” Colzie told media in a post-scrimmage Zoom call. “I thought we did a really, really good job.”
FAMU’s offense and defense scrimmage also had a section in the scrimmage.
Colzie placed the Rattlers in redzone and deep territory situations.
“We didn’t just put the football down there and say ‘play.’ Today was about different situations, learning and getting better from them, and then being able to coach about it tomorrow,” Colzie said.
FAMU football specialists show up and show out in special teams scrimmage
Special teams play a pivotal role in FAMU’s practices.
Colzie places the kickers in a “hurricane” situation, meaning they’re attempting a field goal with limited time on the clock. It’s similar to a team attempting a half-ending or game-winning field goal with no timeouts, forcing the field goal unit to run onto the field to replace the offense.
The kickers’ success rate determines the Rattlers’ end-of-practice conditioning.
Sometimes, the kickers respond well to the “hurricane.” Sometimes, they don’t.
Saturday was the former, Colzie said, giving thanks to FAMU special teams coordinator Doc Gamble.
“Doc continued to work with them in that,” Colzie said. “Hopefully, we’re not having to kick every single field goal in a hurricane-type situation. We want to continue to put pressure on them. They’re doing a great job of taking on the challenge.
“What happened differently? I don’t know. Their concentration level was where it needed to be.”
Colzie said FAMU kickers Cameron Gillis and Michael Smith went perfect Saturday.
Gillis, a grad student from Budapest, Hungary, is a Boxtorow Preseason HBCU All-American. Smith is a sophomore out of Maclay School and will likely be in play to take over the Rattlers’ kicking ranks once Gillis graduates after this season.
“I’m excited about what they did today,” Colzie said. “All of those guys are getting into season form.”
Colzie also added that punter Trey Wilhoit did well on Saturday. Wilhoit, from Tallahassee by way of Chiles High School, is one of 13 players on the 2024 Football Championship Subdivision Punter of the Year watchlist.
“Trey Wilhoit, arguably to me, is not just one of the best in the conference. But one of the best in the country,” Colzie said.
Every snap counts: FAMU football looking for special teams all-stars
In the last three seasons, FAMU had a special teams star gunner in Tevin Griffey, whose primary position was defensive back. Griffey has since transferred to Boise State.
So, the Rattlers are looking for someone to fill that void lost with Griffey’s departure.
FAMU defensive back Robert Glanton impressed Colzie on special teams Saturday.
“We’re still looking for a Tevin Griffey-type guy. And we do have those players,” Colzie said. “Robert Glanton, who was a major guy for us last year, will be a major factor for what we’re doing special teams-wise.”
FAMU prides itself on putting its best players on special teams.
That means many of the Rattlers’ starters are amongst the 11 that take the field during kicks and punts.
Colzie referenced how the Rattlers’ starting linebackers, Isaiah Major and Johnny Chaney Jr., played special teams last season.
“We have many starters on these special teams. We want our best 11,” Colzie said. “We want our guys to understand how important every snap is.”
FAMU football’s offense and defense make appearance in special teams scrimmage
The FAMU offense and defense made a cameo appearance at Saturday’s scrimmage.
Colzie said the offense was placed in the red zone situations.
Colzie said the first team didn’t score. However, the second team did as quarterback Junior Muratovic connected with transfer wide receiver Brooks Hickman.
The FAMU offense was also placed on its own 10-yard line. Colzie said the goal was to get two first downs to keep the Rattlers from punting deep in their own territory.
The first team got two first downs. The second team didn’t in two tries, Colzie said.
Colzie added that the offense didn’t have any turnovers, but the defense forced a lot of fourth downs Saturday.
“You just chalk it up as wins and losses. Did you meet your goal or not meet your goal?” Colzie said.
“We work those types of situations every day. But today, it was more magnified because we didn’t necessarily run as many team plays as we normally run during regular practice.
FAMU has seen improvement from its first scrimmage last week to its second scrimmage.
It’s about staying consistent as the Rattlers move to their 15th practice with less than two weeks until opening their season against the Norfolk State Spartans in Atlanta’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Aug. 24.
FAMU will have a closed practice on Sunday.
“We were very, very clean. I thought we were very, very crisp,” Colzie said. “Do we have some work to do? Yes. But I thought overall, for FAMU football, we did a good job today.”
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 has 2nd preseason scrimmage: How the Rattlers performed
