Florida A&M football has officially begun getting physical.
On Saturday, the Rattlers added shoulder pads for their third practice, allowing players to make contact for the first time at preseason training camp for the 2024 season.
“We took it up another level because we had a couple of extra fights than we normally do. That’s normal when the pads go on,” said FAMU head coach James Colzie III.
“We have to make sure we take care of each other, and I didn’t see a good job of that today. The pads were on. We were a little feisty. But overall, I thought it was still a pretty good day.”
The Rattlers last displayed their physicality in tackle football at their Orange and Green Spring Game.
That was 105 days ago, on April 13.
So, FAMU has longed to hear the pads clink against each other.
However, FAMU linebacker Aric Horne, expected to land a starting spot this season, wants the Rattlers to know how to stay even-tempered at practices regardless of shells or padded meetings.
“It felt good to get back in pads. It’s been a while since the springtime,” Horne said.
“You know things are when it gets rowdy out here. It’s just about finding our composure.”
FAMU football gets first glimpse of how team performs with pads
The first day of pads let Colzie assess his team in a live, 11-on-11 setting.
While the first-year Rattlers coach was satisfied, he also knows his inaugural FAMU football team has improvements to make with 22 more practices left before the season opener against Norfolk State at Aug. 24’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta.
“The offensive line and defensive line did a pretty good job. Our safeties played well,” Colzie said. “Our quarterbacks, at times, made a couple of bad decisions. They were trying to force some things in.
“Overall, we did some good things. But, we had some bad things as…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/famu-football-showcases-feistiness-physicality-214310556.html
Author : Tallahassee Democrat
Publish date : 2024-07-27 21:43:10
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