One down, 13 to go.
The football cleats were in the grass as Florida A&M began its 2026 preseason training camp practice on Friday, July 31.
It marked the first for new head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., a former Rattler Hall of Fame quarterback hired last December from Albany State. He has 14 camp practices to evaluate his inaugural FAMU football team with the season’s kickoff less than a month away on Aug. 29, hosting NCAA Division II’s Albany State.
The Orange and Green started training camp with 87 players, per the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s media guide. They look to rebound from a 5-7 season in 2025, before Gray’s hire.
And camp will be a major part of making that a reality.
Here’s everything we learned on the opening day of the Rattlers’ training camp.
Isaiah Knowles is undoubtedly FAMU football’s starting QB
For the first time since 2023, the Rattlers aren’t openly holding a starting quarterback battle.
Isaiah Knowles is the guy.
Knowles transferred into FAMU after spending three seasons with Gray at Albany State. Knowles won back-to-back Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025.
The graduate student threw for nearly 5,000 yards at Albany State. He added 50 passing touchdowns against 14 interceptions, and rushed for 11 touchdowns from under center during that span, playing the vast majority of his snaps in 2024 and 2025.
“Nothing’s changed,” Gray said. “Right now, he’s our guy. And we’re going to rely on him to take us where we need to go until he says otherwise.”
FAMU will run a fast-paced offense similar to the Gulf Coast Offense, a system Gray played in as the team’s quarterback under head coach Billy Joe. The Rattlers will rely on spread formations with up to four wide receivers in the high-tempo, no-huddle attack.
Gray added that he’s excited about the running backs and tight ends. So they may play vital roles in the offense, too.
Gray and Knowles ran a similar offense together for Albany State, which was one of the highest-scoring offenses in Division II.
“This is my fourth year in the offense, so I know the playbook like the back of my hand,” Knowles told reporters after practice. “A lot of guys have a lot of questions. I communicate to them what I need on certain routes and where the ball will be on certain coverages.”
FAMU football’s secondary still a question mark
Defensive back sets are far from settled, as the Rattlers have 15 in total.
Seven are cornerbacks, and the remaining eight play safety.
“We’ve got to figure a couple of other things out,” Gray said. “[Will] be some position battles, especially at corner and safety. We’re looking forward and eager to see those things materialize.”
FAMU’s most experienced cornerback is Isiah Davis. He played in nine games last year and had 11 tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. A key transfer is Jaden Outar from Tusculum. He also played nine games, with 18 tackles and two pass breakups.
Two of the team’s longest tenured players, Jordan Cumberbatch and Andre Powell, are in the safety race. Cumberbatch played eight games, getting eight tackles, while Powell secured 13 tackles in 12 appearances last season.
Justin Bostic was one of FAMU’s top safeties in 2025, playing nine games and picking up 23 tackles and five breakups. Dion Villiers checked in nine games and got 13 tackles.
Jason Duclona is a newcomer who could produce, after a 24-tackle, three-pass breakup statline for East Tennessee State last year.
Despite key departures, FAMU football’s linebacker play shouldn’t be an issue
FAMU lost its top three tackling linebackers from last season to graduation: Jason Riles Jr., Nay’Ron Jenkins, and Brian Norris Jr. Jenkins and Norris are now graduate assistants on the coaching staff.
Now, six linebackers are on the roster.
Graduate student Justice Cross had 42 tackles and three tackles for loss for the Rattlers last season.
Denzel Johnson, a junior, transferred from SWAC foe Alabama State this offseason. He accumulated 66 tackles and three pass deflections while playing for the Hornets. While at Alabama State, Johnson spent a season on Ryan Lewis’ defense, who is now FAMU’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
“Our linebackers are some very talented and experienced guys,” Gray said.
FAMU’s remaining linebackers are Christopher Cotton, Guiseann Mirtil, Kingston Sutton, and Darrick McGhee Jr.
FAMU football has depth on the defensive line
It’s been a struggle to stop the run and beleaguer opposing quarterbacks for the Rattlers the last two seasons.
That may come to an end as new coach Gray has fielded a defensive line that won’t get pushed.
“Our D-Line is going to give us an uptick,” Gray said.
FAMU has edge stoppers at the defensive end spots, headlined by Antonio Camon Jr., who had 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and a team-leading four sacks. Syracuse transfer Caden Brown got major props during spring football. All-SIAC selection Isaiah Morrison transferred to FAMU from Albany State to continue playing for Gray.
Daryl ‘DJ’ Jones is the top defensive tackle, returning to FAMU after getting 18 tackles in 2025.
FAMU football is not viewing 2026 as a wasted season
An NCAA Level Two postseason ban due to Academic Progress Rate isn’t dimming the Rattlers’ 2026 aspirations and commitment.
The Rattlers saw little to no movement in the NCAA Transfer Portal after their postseason ban allowed seniors to look elsewhere to play.
“The guys that stayed understand what it is, and they know that we still have goals that we can obtain,” Gray said. “It’s not like we’re out here for nothing.”
One of FAMU’s goals is to be ranked highly in the SWAC, the Black College Football Poll, and potentially even in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. FAMU was predicted to finish fourth in the SWAC East and debuted at 10th in the inaugural Black College poll.
No Rattlers were picked for the All-SWAC preseason team, the only school of 12 not represented.
The Rattlers will face many HBCU contenders to prove the pre-kickoff chatter is just that…chatter.
“Preseason means nothing to us,” said running back Jamal Hailey. “When it’s time to play, preseason isn’t going to show up for you. When we play everybody, they’ve got to see us.”
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 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 opens training camp under Quinn Gray: What we learned
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
