HBCU Football: Can Florida A&M contend in first year in the SWAC?
By Dante Pryor
Who throws the ball to Xavier Smith this fall?
The biggest question for the Rattlers’ offense is, “who is going to throw the football?” Xavier Smith is FAMU’s best offensive player with 77 receptions,1,159, and 11 touchdowns yards in 2019. The outgoing quarterback, Ryan Stanley, is not going to be easy to replace.
Stanley owns several school records at FAMU, including touchdown passes and yards. The Pembroke Pines, Florida native leaves Tallahassee as one of the best quarterbacks in school history. Players of that caliber are not easy to replace.
Head coach Willie Simmons likes his chances, however. “Obviously, it’s big news when you’ve got to replace a quarterback, let alone one who owns quite a few school records,” said Simmons. “However the four guys (quarterbacks) who made it through the spring, we’re very excited about.”
Those quarterbacks include Rasean McKay, Cameron Sapp, LeJohn Howard, and Kansas State transfer John Holcombe II.
Whoever is behind center for FAMU will throw to arguably the deepest receiver room this side of Huntsville, Alabama. Led by Xavier Smith, Chad Hunter, Azende Ray and David Manigo also return.
In addition to the veterans returning, Chris Sanders, Aquil Muhammad, and Jeremiah Pruitte will compete for snaps. At 6-foot-5, Pruitte, a Colorado State transfer, looks like the real deal coming off of the bus.
The offensive line should improve with the addition of offensive line coach Ryan Stancheck. He and Simmons have a relationship from their Alcorn State days. All-MEAC lineman Keenan Forbes returns to bolster a line featuring two transfers.
Jay Williams comes to the Rattlers from down the street at Florida State and Orlando Heggs transfers in from Wake Forest. Redshirt senior Jalen Spady moves from guard to center with Jalen Brayboy rounding out the interior of the line.
Coach Simmons, a former running backs coach, is likely most excited about the running backs this fall. Though the Rattlers did not run the ball as well as expected, they come into this season as one of the deepest running back rooms in the SWAC.
Eddie Tillman, Bishop Bonnett, Terrell Jennings, and Devonne Kendrick return and all had great spring workouts. Tillman, who was injured in 2019, showed the injury was behind him with a long run during the spring.
That’s not to mention true freshman Tre’ven Smith and Savannah State transfer 6-foot-2, 240-pound hammer Jayln McCloud. Expect the Rattlers to have a by-committee approach to running the football with quite the committee.