FAMU HARD KNOCKS: Rattlers report to campus, eager to begin fall football training camp

In correspondence with the Florida A&M Rattlers' Fall Football Training Camp (Aug. 4-Aug. 26), Tallahassee Democrat reporter Gerald Thomas, III will chronicle the team as it prepares for the 2023 season by providing practice reports, player and coach spotlights, and inside looks at the program as they become available. Thomas presents, 'FAMU HARD KNOCKS.'

The Rattlers have arrived.

On Wednesday, the Florida A&M football team reported to campus for fall training camp in preparation for the 2023 season.

The Rattlers, led by sixth-year head coach Willie Simmons (33-12 record at FAMU/2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic), had their first meeting with school administration at the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Lecture Hall.

Following the administrative meetings, FAMU enjoyed a team meal at the campus cafeteria before having its first football-focused team meeting at Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse to conclude the day.

The Rattlers will have their first fall practice on Friday, Aug. 4 as 110 players are scheduled to participate in training camp.

"We're really excited about this year," Simmons said at Wednesday's 220 Quarterback Club luncheon. "And I haven't been this excited about this team in a long time."

Of the first wave of players to arrive was graduate student, starting quarterback, and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jeremy Moussa.

"This is very important to get people acclimated to what we expect as a program," Moussa said as he sat in the front row.

"It's been a long time since we've been in a real practice. But at the same time it went really quick. I tried to enjoy the spring, the summer, and the process that comes with it, but not get ahead of myself.

"It's here now. We're all excited and ready to go."

Moussa, who transferred from NCAA Division I-FBS Vanderbilt last year, will participate in his second training camp with FAMU, and his last in college. His experience will prove vital into passing down knowledge to incoming freshman and an abundance of transfers.

"School is finishing up," he said. "All it is is football. You have to dedicate your time to it and treat like you're a professional.

"I would just say put your head in the playbook, stay in your coach's pocket, and ask a lot of questions because we have to be ready to start fast."

FAMU cornerback Eric Smith is now the veteran of the team. He, alongside receivers David Manigo and Nick Dixon have been on the team since 2018, in conjunction with Simmons' first season as head coach.

Smith, who graduated from FAMU with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice last December, will use his final year of eligibility this season as one of the Rattlers' returning starters on the Dark Cloud Defense.

"It's exciting to be a mentor to the young guys," Smith, from Opa-Locka said. "We're just trying to come out, produce everything we've did in spring, and put it all together."

Smith's main advice to first-time FAMU campers is to fight the mental and physical toll from Tallahassee's warm weather alongside the nonstop grind of season preparation.

"It's hot out there," Smith said of what to expect at fall training camp. "You have to be mentally prepared and stay locked in during the whole camp because it gets long. Be able to take in information and know how to adjust and adapt.

"Stay locked in to the attention to details and be coachable."

The Rattlers will open their season on Sunday, Sept. 3 against conference opponent Jackson State Tigers at the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens.

FAMU was also voted to win the SWAC East alongside having the most preseason all-conference selections with ten, announced at last week's football media day.

Boudreaux Box cooling facility delivered on Wednesday, makes a return to FAMU football training camp

The Boudreaux Box is becoming a yearly thing at FAMU.

After being the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football program to have the cooling station, assembled by CEO Paul Boudreaux in 2022, the Rattlers will have it at their convenience at training camp again this year.

The 220 Quarterback Club and the Rattler Boosters raised $15,000 and presented Boudreaux with the check at Wednesday's luncheon.

Alongside FAMU, Boudreaux has partnerships with Southeastern Conference (SEC) football programs Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers.

The Boudreaux Box's body recovery zone is set at 19 degrees to help players replenish from high summer temperatures. The cooling station's temperature can get as cool as -25 degrees, but 19 degrees has proven to be the most productive, Boudreaux told the Tallahassee Democrat.

At last week's 220 Quarterback Club Luncheon, Simmons credited the Boudreaux Box for significantly decreasing players' cramp-related health issues from over 30 in 2021 to just two in 2022.

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers officially in camp, excited to hit the field