The first day of full pads typically sets the boys apart from the men.
It also offers coaches a glimpse of who will be the headhunters on their football team.
Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. can attest. The head coach’s Florida A&M team had its first day in full gear at training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
“It’s one of the days you look forward to because it’s a chance to get some good eval,” Gray told the Tallahassee Democrat after the Rattlers’ fifth training camp practice. “Obviously, it’s the first day, so you don’t want to overdo it. But it’s a necessary evil to make sure that you put your team together in a way that represents what your core values are.”
The core values Gray speaks of are the Rattlers being a “smart, fast, and physical” team. He believes his squad showcased those traits on Wednesday.
“We did see some physical play today, which is something that I’m very happy about. Especially on the first day,” Gray said, “We just got to continue to build on that throughout camp.”
Gray didn’t name a fully-padded offensive or defensive winner. Instead, “the Rattlers won,” the satisfied head coach said.
FAMU defensive end Antonio Camon Jr. added that it was a battle with the offensive linemen on Wednesday. The team’s sack leader from last season, with four, says his matchups often feature a rotation of offensive tackles, including Jeremy Fishkin, Kai Gadson, and Christopher Williams.
“It’s always going to be competitive between the O-Line and D-Line. We’re in the trenches, so that’s all we’re used to,” the redshirt junior said. “We just like to make each other better every day.”
FAMU has its second day of full pads on Thursday, Aug. 6, followed by shells on Friday, Aug. 7. The Rattlers will have their first preseason training camp scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 8, where they’re able to make a little more contact in a game-like setting, Gray said.
The Rattlers are set to learn where they stand three weeks before the 2026 regular season kicks off at home on Aug. 29 against Albany State at Ken Riley Field on Bragg Memorial Stadium.
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: How FAMU football began forging identity in first full-pad practice
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
