The final home game of the season for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will feature a recent champion trying to return to the top.
UAPB will host Florida A&M on Nov. 8 at Simmons Bank Field to wrap up a stretch of four home games in five weeks.
FAMU (7-5, 5-3 SWAC in 2024) won the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Celebration Bowl two seasons ago but failed to live up to that standard last season. The Rattlers lost only to eventual SWAC champion Jackson State out of the East Division but suffered two surprising losses against West Division foes.
Prairie View A&M forced three turnovers and used a 14-point fourth quarter to pull away from the Rattlers 31-12 in Texas one week before FAMU’s shocking home loss to Mississippi Valley State, 24-21.
UAPB’s (3-9, 2-6) two SWAC wins were against teams which later defeated the Rattlers.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The 2024 season for FAMU was a big step back from 2023’s 12-1 campaign. Second-year head coach James Colzie III will try to get the Rattlers back to the top this year but has a lot of key players to replace.
One of the biggest tasks for Colzie will be replacing starting quarterback Daniel Richardson. The SWAC Newcomer of the Year led the conference with 221.8 passing yards per game and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
With Richardson and backup Junior Muratovic both gone, the Rattlers have brought in several transfers to compete with returners Bryson Martin and Traven Green, who combined for one pass attempt last season.
FAMU signed three Football Bowl Subdivision transfers. Florida transfer Lawrence Wright IV and Toledo transfer RJ Johnson III did not play at their previous schools, while Central Michigan transfer Tyler Jefferson played in seven games last season, completing 46.55 percent of his passes for 286 yards and an interception. The Rattlers also signed a junior college transfer, Jett Peddy.
The SWAC’s second-leading passing offense also needs new receivers after losing its top three from last season, including two All-SWAC second team selections. Goldie Lawrence, a freshman last year, is the leading returner in receiving yards with 251, while A’Ceon “Ace” Cobb returns having caught four touchdowns.
The Rattlers were middle of the SWAC in rushing but bring back their top two running backs, Thad Franklin Jr. and Levontai Summersett, who combined for 1,150 yards and seven of the team’s eight rushing touchdowns. FAMU also brings back first team All-SWAC offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable.
Linebacker Nay’Ron Jenkins is the top returning tackler with 73 last season, including 4.5 for loss and three sacks. FAMU will need to develop depth behind him after losing its other top linebackers.
The secondary loses the team’s top tackler, Deco Wilson, but brings back interceptions leader TJ Huggins. He picked off three passes and broke up seven more, both team highs. Fellow defensive backs Jameel Sanders and Corey Collier Jr. also return after each was among the team’s top 11 tacklers.
On the defensive line, Davion Westmoreland returns this fall after leading the Rattlers with eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. James Gardner Jr. was also a threat in the backfield with 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks and will return alongside him.
November’s matchup will be the third between FAMU and UAPB since the Rattlers joined the SWAC. The Golden Lions lost both and managed one offensive touchdown between the two games to go with a defensive score.