Football returned to Bragg on Saturday night as the Rattlers hosted the Green and Orange's spring game.
In their first organized game action since Florida A&M's Celebration Bowl victory in Atlanta, the Rattlers closed out spring football camp with their annual showcase game, marking the beginning of the James Colzie era. The Rattlers green team, wearing white jerseys, defeated the orange team 14-7.
With several transfers, recruits and a new roster getting their first taste of competition at Ken Reilly Field under Coach Colzi, here's what we took away from FAMU's spring scrimmage.
Muratovic shines in spring showcase appearance
Saturday's spring game provided a glimpse into the future of FAMU's quarterback room post-Jeremy Musa.
All six quarterbacks on the roster saw snaps during the spring showcase, with Junior Muratovic gaining attention in the game and Daniel Richardson, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, having a solid spring performance. I got it.
On Saturday, Muratovic looked confident as he led the first touchdown drive of the game and scored the first point of the game after gaining over 80 yards of offense. One of the veterans on the roster, Muratovic appeared in six games last season and threw for 138 yards.
In Saturday's game, Muratovic threw two touchdowns, led the Rattlers' only successful offensive drive of the game, and shined during the 7-on-7 portion of the showcase.
Richardson, who won the Spring Quarterback of the Year award from FAMU at halftime, got off to a slow start in the spring game. The graduate transfer, who threw three interceptions, looked strong in practice but struggled to find his footing in real life.
Alston Hooker, Trey Fisher, Noah Ross and DJ Bonnie all got snaps for the Rattlers, but the duo of Muratovic and Richardson appeared to be in contention for the starting spot. Both players completed difficult passes and showed excellent pocket awareness during the game scenario portion of the Spring Showcase.
Defense turnover shines in spring showcase
FAMU's defense was a standout on Saturday, forcing four interceptions and allowing just one touchdown from the offense.
The Rattlers ranked as one of the best defenses in the nation last year, and this year's team looks to follow suit.
The secondary was strong against the pass-heavy FAMU offense, forcing five interceptions, including one pick-six, and numerous incompletions. Jordan Cumberbatch, Ahmaa Lee, Andre Powell Jr., and Gabriel Nance all came up with nominations to the Rattlers.
Overall, FAMU's defense showed promise with several tackles for loss and a sack. Although there were only a few offensive rushes, the Rattlers' front seven looked strong against the run, allowing very few yards after contact.
Powell has two interceptions and is a strong defensive back.
One player who stood out among the strong defensive backs was Andre Powell Jr. He picked off Richardson twice in the first half of the play, including a well-timed route jump that led to the first interception.
Last year, the Rattlers had one of the strongest defensive back groups in the nation, and this year's team retained Kendall Boller and Powell. Powell had a strong performance in Saturday night's showcase, covering well and making a few mistakes in addition to the interception.
After appearing in 11 games last season, Powell recorded 14 total tackles in the 2023 season and showed promise in the spring showcase that he could have an improved season in the fall.
Liam Rooney covers prep sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach me by email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamroone.y
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