The NCAA Transfer Portal allows college student-athletes to find a new home.
Typically, players transfer from their previous teams for a variety of reasons, including the chance to compete in a higher conference or more playing time.
While Florida A&M University has attracted the largest freshman class transferring from the Football Bowl Subdivision to the Football Championship Subdivision, the Rattlers have also seen a number of key players transfer into the portal since winning the Black College National Championship in the Celebration Bowl.
FCS and HBCU teams often have to reshuffle their rosters each offseason as players pursue other opportunities. Sometimes, that reshuffle comes when a team brings in a new head coach, as FAMU did with James Colzie III.
Here's where FAMU transfers have landed after entering the portal.
Success at FAMU leads to opportunity for Power 5 football.
FAMU will be ranked highly in college football's Power Five conferences.
Two former Rattlers defensive linemen, Gentle Hunt and Sherif Say, will play in the Big Ten. Hunt transferred from FAMU to the University of Illinois, while Say went on to UCLA.
Hunt played at FAMU from 2021-2023, recording 89 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Hunt was named to the All-Southwestern Athletic Conference second team in 2023.
Seay transferred from Southeastern Louisiana to play at FAMU in 2023. Seay recorded 22 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble for the Rattlers.
Former FAMU linebacker Johnny Chaney Jr. currently plays for Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders. Chaney's arrival at Colorado reunites him with Devin Rispress, the Rattlers' former director of scouting who is now the Buffaloes' assistant director of player personnel and high school relations.
Chaney played at FAMU from 2021-2023 and was a regular on the Dark Cloud Defense, recording 141 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble when he left the Rattlers. Chaney was named to the All-SWAC Second Team in 2023.
More FAMU players transfer to advance to the NCAA Division I FBS level.
Three former Rattlers currently play in the Mid-American Conference.
FAMU star defensive end Anthony Dunn Jr. has committed to the Toledo Rockets. Dunn, a 2023 All-SWAC First Team selection, played two seasons with the Rattlers after transferring from FBS program Marshall.
After a big performance in the 2022 Florida Classic, Dunn earned himself a regular spot at FAMU, recording 54 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during his time with the Rattlers. Dunn recorded eight sacks in 2023 to lead the Rattlers.
Former FAMU wide receiver Trevonte Davis will return to his hometown to play for Central Michigan University. Davis, a Flint native, transferred from Wayne State University and will spend the 2022 and 2023 years at FAMU.
Davis battled injuries during his tenure while recording seven catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Davis' touchdowns at FAMU came in the team's season openers against North Carolina in 2022 and Jackson State in 2023.
Former FAMU long snapper Emmett Rose will play for the Akron Zips. He enrolled at FAMU in 2023 but did not play in any games.
Here are some other notable players who transferred from FAMU through the portal
Tallahassee native Zaire Riley is heading just an hour north to play for Valdosta State University, a Division II football powerhouse.
Riley, a defensive back, enrolled at FAMU in 2022 out of Gadsden County High School in Havana. He redshirted in 2022 but played in four games in 2023.
In 2022, Riley made an incredible one-handed interception during a practice at the Rattlers' fall training camp that earned him a spot on ESPN.
Former FAMU receiver Kareem Burke has remained in the SWAC, transferring to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the SWAC West Division. At FAMU, Burke showed glimpses of his running and catching ability with the Rattlers.
In 2023, Burke rushed eight times for 85 yards and a touchdown and had six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Former FAMU defensive back Orel Gray has transferred to Itawamba Community College, where a good performance could see him return to Division I football.
Gray appeared in just two games as a freshman at FAMU in 2023 and also picked up a tackle.
But Gray is a familiar name in Florida, having recorded more than 2,000 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns as a senior running back at University Christian in 2022 and earned the Jacksonville Times Union All-First Coast Offensive Player of the Year award.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Recruiting Class
Quarterback
Alston Hooker – North Carolina A&T
Bryson Martin – Miami
Daniel Richardson – Florida Atlantic
Run back
Dorian Collier – Chadron County
Thaddeus Franklin Jr. – Monroe, Louisiana
Jalen Neal – Buford High School (Georgia)
Wide Receiver
Marques Bell – Old Dominion
Caden Bridgeman — Niceville High School
Aceon Cobb – Florida Atlantic
Quay Davis – Texas Southern
Amari Johnson – Central Florida
Jalen Rogers – Tulane University
Jaylen Ward – Middle Tennessee State University
Tight End
Wade Bowman – Lewis and Clark
Carter Johnson – Pitt
Jayden Evans – Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman
Ezra Dotson Oyetade – Texas Christian
Nathan Gates – Washington State
Jeremy Fishkin – Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Florida)
Dat Nguyen – Southwest Baptist
Elijah Phillips – Troy
Christian Wingfield – Austin Peay
Defensive Line
Antonio Camon – Pittsburgh
Nick Dimitris – UNLV
Montora Edwards – Copiah Lincoln Community College
Breckien Harold – Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory (Hollywood, Florida)
Cameron McDonald – Kennesaw State University
Clyde Pinder Jr. – Copiah Lincoln Community College
Stantavious Smith – South Florida
Davion Westmoreland – Kansas
Linebacker
Landon Boulding – Monarch High School (Coconut Creek, Florida)
Avery Huff – Florida International
Jalen Fox – Mississippi Valley State University
LaTallie Kinsler – Florida International
Darrick McGehee Jr. — Florida High School
Brian Norris Jr. – South Florida
Jerome Nichols – Michigan
Justin Squire – Mandarin High School
Defensive Back
Brandon Callaway – Purdue
Corey Collier Jr. – Nebraska
Simeon Hines – Northern Arizona
Jameel Sanders – South Florida
Demorie Tate – Florida State University
Specialist
Andrew Tischer – Punter – Stetson
Gunner Trout – Kicker/Punter – Cocoa High School
Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached by email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or via app (formerly Twitter). translation:.
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