Florida A&M players are taking the necessary preparation steps to play professional football.
On Thursday, the Rattlers held their annual Pro Day, bringing together draft-eligible football players to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts.
Twelve NFL teams and one CFL team evaluated 18 FAMU football players Thursday afternoon at Bragg Memorial Stadium ahead of next month's draft.
“This shows we're moving in the right direction,” said FAMU head football coach James Colzie III, who had a brief NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “This shows us that you can be successful at Florida A&M. We want to give them every opportunity to get to the next level.
“We have great products and systems here. We hope we can continue this for the next few years.”
Some of FAMU's top testers were defensive back Eric Smith, who ran an impressive 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. Defensive back Javan Morgan and wide receiver Nick Dixon both measured 36 inches vertically. And linebacker Isaiah Major bench pressed 20 times.
Pro Days has become a calling card for FAMU soccer players to earn professional soccer opportunities.
The program currently includes three current NFL players: Mark Keith Bell (Dallas Cowboys), Isaiah Land (Indianapolis Colts) and Xavier Smith (Los Angeles Rams).
SWAC's top players culminate their college football careers at FAMU's Pro Day
Quarterback Jeremy Musa had a varied college football career, including stops at Hawaii, San Bernardino Valley College and Vanderbilt before arriving at FAMU in 2022.
Musa was scouted at FAMU by former head coach Willie Simmons and offensive coordinator KJ Black. From there, Musa, a native of Chino Hills, Calif., served as the Rattlers' starting QB from 2022-2023. Musa finished his college career winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year award and a share of the Deacon Jones Trophy.
“FAMU was the place that gave me an opportunity, and I can't thank Coach Simmons and Coach Black enough for giving me a shot at a guy who hadn't played much,” he said. Musa said after training and pitching practice. Day.
“I've gotten some traction there, so I'm hoping for an opportunity to show what I'm capable of in late April, early May. I'm just soaking it up and enjoying the process. ”
Major, a linebacker at FAMU, has followed a similar journey to Musa.
The Oklahoma City native joined the Rattlers in 2022 after attending Division II Central Oklahoma and Independence Community College.
Major was promoted as the anchor of FAMU's “Dark Cloud Defense,” which ranked second in total defense in the Football Championship Subdivision. Major was named the SWAC's 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
Although a linebacker, Major's versatility and elusiveness allowed him to complete a portion of his pro day workouts as a defensive back.
“It went well. I hit a lot of the numbers I wanted to hit,” Major said. “This is a testament to our work and shows that HBCUs are also playing good football.
“It's surreal. I'm so proud of myself.”
Local FAMU football stars perform for the last time in Tallahassee for their pro day.
FAMU Soccer is filled with local talent.
During pro day, the Rattlers presented four local players in front of pro football scouts: wide receiver Marcus Riley (Rickers), tight ends Kamari Young (Goby), Dixon (Godby) and Morgan (Florida High). was tested.
Riley played quarterback for Rickard's Raiders under coach Quintin Lewis. Riley originally played receiver at the University of Louisville. He then transferred to Bethune-Cookman for three seasons, completing his eligibility at FAMU.
Last season, Riley returned the opening kickoff 96 yards against Jackson State, a prelude to an All-SWAC second-team season and ignited the Rattlers' 2023.
Riley's pursuit of playing professional football is largely motivated by representing Tallahassee and his family. He said former FAMU recruiting director and fellow Tallahassee native Devin Lispress helped him through the pre-draft process.
“All we do is for our hometown,” Riley said. “It was a good experience to do something new that no one in my family has ever done. They all look up to me. So I will stay loyal to those who believe in me. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Morgan rose to prominence at Florida High School under coach Jarrod Hickman and went on to become an All-SWAC player for the Rattlers.
Morgan, who arrived at FAMU in 2019, was present for all 19 consecutive wins for the Rattlers and has the rare distinction of never losing at Bragg Stadium. FAMU holds the second-longest home winning streak in the FCS behind South Dakota State's 21.
With a long legacy of winning, Morgan aims high to achieve his goals.
“The last time we did something on the field at FAMU was special,” Morgan said. “Every time I come out, it's very motivating because I want to do good because I don't want to disappoint my friends and family.”
Did your favorite football team attend the Florida A&M Rattlers Pro Day?
buffalo bills
chicago bears
cleveland browns
houston texans
indianapolis colts
jacksonville jaguars
minnesota vikings
new england patriots
new york jets
seattle seahawks
tampa bay buccaneers
commander of washington
winnipeg blue bombers
Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him by email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as his Twitter. @3peatgee.
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