Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning James Colzie III across Football.
Hired to rebuild a program burdened by academic penalties, Gray is reviving tradition, securing funding and leaning on a legacy of coaches to steer Florida A&M back to competitiveness.
The Florida A&M Rattlers open the 2026 season on August 29 against Albany State, led by first‑year head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., who brings a championship pedigree from Albany State. The Rattlers face a 12‑game schedule that is fully televised, return key players, and navigate an NCAA postseason ban while targeting a winning record.
After a 5‑7 finish and an NCAA academic ban, Florida A&M’s football program is reshaping its roster and leadership as it prepares for the 2026 season.
Despite being picked fourth in the SWAC East and lacking any All‑SWAC preseason selections, the Florida A&M Rattlers are using the skepticism surrounding their program as motivation for a turnaround under new head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr.
Florida A&M's football program is barred from the 2026 postseason due to APR violations, yet head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. says the team will chase top spots in the SWAC East, HBCU polls and FCS rankings while using the ban as motivation.
The inaugural Black College Football preseason poll places Florida A&M at No. 10, following a 5‑7 season and the hiring of Gray, who will be joined by quarterback Isaiah Knowles and defensive end Antonio Camon Jr. at SWAC Media Day.
From Jake Gaither’s historic dynasty to Willie Simmons’s recent Celebration Bowl triumph, Florida A&M’s football program boasts a lineage of coaching excellence that spans decades.
Florida A&M’s Rattlers prepare for a pivotal 2026 season, highlighted by a strong returning core and a new coaching direction showcased at SWAC Media Day.
Level Two sanctions will bar Florida A&M from postseason play in 2026 and spring practice in 2027, prompting a renewed focus on academic excellence under new leadership.