Academics and on-field performance are not competing entities.
Quinn Fordham Gray Sr.’s Florida A&M football team is proving that early in the new head coach’s tenure.
On Wednesday, May 20, FAMU announced that its Rattlers football team earned a 3.05 grade-point average for the spring 2026 semester.
Forty-one players earned academic recognition, with four landing on the President’s List, seven on the Dean’s List, and 30 getting on the Honor Roll.
“Our staff has done a tremendous job of holding our young men to a high standard,” Gray said in a press release. “When you look at 41 guys on the honor lists and over a 3.0 team GPA, that’s a testament to the work our academic support team and coaches put in every single day.”
Gray mentioned that the Rattlers’ grades have improved at the Eddie Jackson 220 Quarterback Club luncheon on May 13, a week ago.
FAMU football had a 2.57 GPA during the fall 2025 semester. The improvement coincides with Gray’s first semester as head coach, following his December 2025 hiring by his alma mater.
“This is what it’s all about,” Gray said.
“We talk [about] being ALL-IN in every area of life, and our young men are proving that they’re committed to excellence in the classroom just as much as they are on the field. I’m proud of the improvement they’ve shown thus far.”
The grade improvement could be a positive sign for the Rattlers’ struggles with the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate since its inception in 2004.
FAMU is currently under Level-Two sanctions, including a 2026 postseason ban and outlawed from participating in spring 2027 practice, due to falling below the NCAA’s required 930. The Rattlers had a 918 for the 2024-2025 athletic year.
FAMU has only met the score twice in 19 tries, 2008-2009 and 2018-2019.
If the Orange and Green continue to shine in the classroom, it could help the team avoid NCAA Level Three punishments in 2027 and return to Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl championship contention.
Presidential List (4.0 Term GPA)
Four Rattlers achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average for the spring semester, earning a place on the university’s Presidential List: Wyatt Crosby, OL; Jaden Outar, CB; Vinh Quain, SPT; and Kyjuan Taylor Jr., RB.
Dean’s List (3.5–3.99 Term GPA)
Seven student athletes earned Dean’s List recognition for the spring semester: Luke Collins, WR; Jeremy Fishkin, OL; Ryan Hall, NKL; James Hayes, QB; Darrick McGhee, LB; Corey Petty, WR; and Justin Squire, DE.
Honor Roll (3.0–3.49 Term GPA)
An additional 30 Rattlers earned Honor Roll distinction for posting a 3.0 or higher term GPA: Emilio Bacardi, SPT; Armand Burris, WR; Camarion Bush, OL; Jordan Davis, OL; Maliek Denmark, WR; Jamal Hailey, RB; DeRodrick Hepburn, RB; Johnny Hutton, CB; Isaiah Knowles, QB; Jaquan Lee, WR; Caleb McKenzie, CB; Adrien Medine, DT; Isaiah Morrison, DE; Armond Parker, QB; Gabriel Perez, SPT; Xavier Perkins, DE; Porter Peterson, WR; Willie Queen, RB; Mazio Randall, DT; Jayquan Ried, WR; Andrew Ritter, TE; Anthony Rosier, DE; Levontai Summersett, RB; Tyreik Thorpe, WR; Gunnar Trout, SPT; Felipe Velandia, SPT; Dion Villiers, SAF; Myron Ward, TE; Joseph Young, WR; and Tamez Young, TE.
Florida A&M football 2026 schedule
All times are Eastern
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
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 seeing academic improvement early in Quinn Gray era
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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