A Season of Resilience
Florida A&M football kicked off its 2026 preseason practice on a Friday morning, marking the first official work under head coach Quinn Gray since the program was hit with NCAA sanctions that include a postseason ban and a ban on spring practice.
The penalties, announced earlier this year, restrict the team’s practice schedule and bar it from postseason competition in 2026, but they have not dampened the Rattlers’ resolve.
Coach Gray addressed the team’s long camp ahead, emphasizing that the focus must be on improvement and that the sanctions should not define the squad’s identity.
Quarterback Isaiah Knowles, who transferred from Albany State where he threw for 50 touchdowns and 4,726 yards, said the sanctions have become a rallying point, fueling a collective desire to prove the team’s mettle.
Knowles, now in his fourth year within Gray’s offensive system, highlighted the chemistry building among the returning starters and the importance of mentoring younger players.
The Rattlers enter the season with a .500 record over the past two campaigns, and Gray expressed confidence in the defensive line, running backs, tight ends and linebackers, while noting that most position battles have already been settled, especially at quarterback.
With no players opting to leave the program, the coaching staff sees continuity as a cornerstone for future success, and the team is set to open the 2026 season at home against Albany State on August 29.