It’s time to go camping.
Florida A&M football will begin its 2026 preseason training camp, with practices scheduled to start on Friday, July 31.
It will be the first camp for new Rattlers head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., who was hired by his alma mater last December after three years at Albany State.
Gray will evaluate a turned-over roster from the previous coaching regime. He will have to make some tough decisions on the depth chart before the regular season kicks off on Aug. 29, with a home game against Albany State at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
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Let’s take a look at FAMU football’s most intriguing position battles entering the season.
Quarterback Isaiah Knowles has options.
But who will overtake the top spot and be the go-to guy for the Rattlers?
The most productive holdovers at FAMU are wide receivers Armand Burris, A’Ceon ‘Ace’ Cobb, and Jamar Taylor. Incoming transfers are Quan Lee from Arkansas State, Mike Peterson from Florida, and Corey ‘Deuce’ Petty from Albany State.
Lee actually transferred back to FAMU after spending the 2025 season at Arkansas State, an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision program.
The six named wide receivers are just a few. Can’t forget a name like true freshman and hometown product Maliek Denmark, who could be a day one starter out of Tallahassee’s Lincoln High School.
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The Rattlers hold 15 receivers in total on their fall football roster.
The biggest question mark of the offseason has been the Rattlers’ offensive line depth.
Twelve offensive linemen are listed on the roster. Returners include Tommy Bridgewater, Wyatt Crosby, Jeremy Fishkin, Kai Gadson, Caleb Riley, Christian Wingfield, and Chris Williams. Caleb Smith recently transferred to FAMU from Albany State over the summer.
FAMU has two-deep depth and then some. That was an emphasis for Coach Gray once spring ended.
Still, Rattlers will have to find the right mix and best possible lineup for their offense to run without disruption.
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FAMU has a good problem to have.
Talented edge rushers.
But only two can play at a time.
Antonio Camon Jr. will likely man one of the spots after leading the team with four sacks last season.
Syracuse transfer Caden Brown earned raving reviews during spring practices. Newcomer from Albany State, Isaiah Morrison, is another defensive end to keep an eye on. He was on last year’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference second team and should be in the mix for the Rattlers.
Regardless of who starts on the edges, FAMU can rotate players to keep fresh legs in the game against opposing offenses.
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All times are Eastern
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Saturday, Aug. 29: vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
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Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. South Carolina State, Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium, 3 p.m., ESPNU
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Thursday, Sept. 10: at Miami, 8 p.m., ACC Network
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Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Tennessee State, 7 p.m., HBCU GO
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Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC), 7 p.m., SWAC TV
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Saturday, Oct. 3: BYE
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Saturday, Oct. 10: at Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Saturday, Oct. 17: at Jackson State (SWAC), 3 p.m., ESPN Network
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Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC/Homecoming), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Southern (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
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Saturday, Nov. 7: at Alcorn State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
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Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
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Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football’s biggest position battles entering 2026 training camp
