FAMU football's QBs, defensive end James Gardner Jr. highlighted in depth chart movement
Rattlers' Quarterback Race Heats Up, But Who Starts?
Florida A&M is getting ready for the 2025 season, and competition is already fierce. The Rattlers held their first scrimmage last Saturday, giving players a chance to shine under pressure. Head Coach James Colzie III sees talent on both sides of the ball, but two positions are particularly heated: quarterback and defensive end.
Quarterback Battle Still "Wide Open"
The race for starting quarterback is far from over. Five quarterbacks entered training camp: Traven Green, Tyler Jefferson, RJ Johnson III, Jett Peddy, and Bryson Martin. While all are vying for the position, Colzie singled out Johnson and Peddy for their impressive performance at the scrimmage.
Johnson, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Toledo, and Peddy, a junior transfer from Long Beach City College, have both made moves up the depth chart.
“RJ and Jett kind of moved themselves a little up," Colzie said. "But it’s still wide open.”
Whoever claims the starting role follows in the footsteps of Jeremy Moussa and Daniel Richardson, two former FAMU quarterbacks who were HBCU All-Americans and Southwestern Athletic Conference award winners.
Gardner Jr. Holding Down Edge Rusher Position
On defense, the Rattlers are aiming to dominate at the line of scrimmage. Returning starter and Preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection James Gardner Jr. has solidified his position as a defensive end, edging out Antonio Camon on the depth chart.
“Defensively, we play so many people. But James Gardner has done a really good job at moving himself as a defensive end,” Colzie said.
Gardner finished last season with 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Camon, a redshirt sophomore, had limited playing time last year but impressed during training camp.
"When that happens, you have a guy like Antonio Camon, who’s also been having a great summer, has to move down," Colzie explained. "So, it's more of what James Gardner was doing and not what Antonio Camon wasn't doing.”
**2025 Schedule
Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN Network
Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando's Camping World Stadium), TIME TBA, ESPN Plus
Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)
All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.