FAMU football's offseason work ethic exemplifies excitement of looming spring practices
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Posted By: S. Moore on March 07, 2023 There's nothing like some spring football. March 7 will be day one for the Florida A&M Rattlers as they enter the spring schedule which is allowed 15 practices by the NCAA. April 15's Orange and Green Spring Game accounts for one of the practices. The Rattlers will practice three times a week with at least a day of rest between and have the entire spring break off spanning from March 11-20 ― returning on March 21. "It's always great to be around the guys and I'm looking forward to see how this team comes together," FAMU head coach Willie Simmons said. "Every year is a challenge and a different group, but we've had a lot of success around here. The fun for me is seeing how each team is different than the other and which leaders will separate themselves from the group and finding the next Markquese Bell, Isaiah Land, and Xavier Smith. "We got some guys that are really at that level as far as talent and I feel like this is the deepest football team that we've had here. We're looking forward to taking that next step and seeing how much quality depth that we can build across the board." It's a new chapter for the Rattlers after finishing 9-2 and second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East a season ago. Spring ball will be pertinent in observing who and what the 2023 FAMU football team can be. "Spring is about great fundamentals and figuring out our new identity as a football team," Simmons said. "We're going to experiment with some things ― offensively, defensively, and the kicking game. And the spring gives us a chance to do that without having to worry about necessarily playing on a Saturday. "We're going take advantage of these opportunities to really be able to grow as a team. I think by the time the spring game rolls around, we'll know what this team is capable of." The Rattlers have been working towards the spring since the 2022 season concluded There's no offseason in college football. Soon as the FAMU was notified that it wouldn't be included in the 2022 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs, the players immediately got to work to prepare for the next season. Over that four-month span, the Rattlers implemented their Fourth Quarter Program led by the team's director of strength and conditioning Cole Forney. It tests FAMU players to be in the best physical and mental shape possible once it's time to begin practicing. "These guys have been hungry and they've been building for this moment," Simmons said. "Our Fourth Quarter Program was very successful to prepare ourselves for spring practice. "We wanted to be where our feet were and that was focusing on getting stronger in the weight room, getting in better condition, and building some mental toughness. "They've really put in more work than I've ever seen and we definitely feel like the hard work will pay off." FAMU stars are out, but Rattlers still hold an abundance of returning starters Though former standouts Smith and Land and others are chasing the pros, the Rattlers still have a majority of starting players returning. Most notably, projected Preseason All-SWAC First Team quarterback Jeremy Moussa. "Jeremy Moussa, as the incumbent is pretty solid as a starter, but you got four guys that are pushing him," Simmons said. "But it's going to be really difficult to unseat the guy that's probably going to be the preseason player of the year in the conference." FAMU's early signee recruiting class of 13 along with players that got insignificant playing time last season will also come in to compete for snaps as they make strides into the new season. "There's some returning starters at most positions but every position is up for grabs," Simmons said. "There are some guys that we're looking forward to who didn't have a chance to play last year because of various reasons. And also some of the newcomers that we brought in in the midyear. "There'll be some fierce battles and I'm looking forward to them. You'll see some guys really separate themselves as the spring goes. That's what it's all about." FAMU Football 2023 Spring Schedule
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