Former FAMU football stars land NFL opportunities with Buccaneers, Jets, Patriots, Saints

Florida A&M trio Jeremy Moussa, Terrell Jennings, Marcus Riley, and Isaiah Major will display their talents at the highest level of football.

The former Rattler standouts landed rookie minicamp invitations after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Moussa (quarterback) signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jennings (running back) is heading to the New England Patriots. Riley (wide receiver) is with the New York Jets. Major (linebacker) inked a deal with the New Orleans Saints.

The FAMU players’ NFL invites come four months after their final college football season, which saw them hoist the Rattlers’ first Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl championships in program history.

They also participated before 12 NFL scouts at FAMU’s Pro Day last March.

Following the 2023 season, Moussa was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year and Deacon Jones Trophy winner, given to the top player in HBCU football. Moussa, who transferred to FAMU from Vanderbilt in 2022, was the first Rattler to win the honors.

While a Rattler, Moussa accumulated a 58 completion percentage, 5,625 passing yards, 47 total touchdowns, and 20 interceptions in two seasons.

“Congratulations, [Moussa],” former FAMU head coach and current Duke running backs coach Willie Simmons said on an X/Twitter post. “Go be great on purpose.”

In 2023, Jennings reemerged as FAMU’s starting running back, tallying 673 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He won the 2023 Florida Classic Most Valuable Player.

Arriving at FAMU as a true freshman in 2019, Jennings rushed for 1,754 yards and scored 25 total touchdowns.

Riley, a Tallahassee native by way of Rickards High School, earned All-SWAC Second Team honors during the Rattlers’ championship run.

In his lone year at FAMU after transferring from Bethune-Cookman, Riley totaled 34 catches for 584 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also returned the season-opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown against Jackson State at the 2023 Orange Blossom Classic.

“It’s official. Pine Ridge, Rick High [Riley] has completed the mission,” Former FAMU director of recruiting and current Colorado football staffer Devin Rispress said in a Facebook post. “I’m so proud of this kid that it makes me emotional. Tallahassee, let’s celebrate a great accomplishment.”

Major, a junior college product, arrived at FAMU in 2022. He won the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year and Celebration Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player. He ended his two-season tenure with the Rattlers with 114 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two interceptions.

Head coached by Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers won the NFC South Championship last season and reached the Wild Card round. Head coach Dennis Allen’s Saints were the runners-up in the NFC South.

Robert Saleh leads the Jets, who are fresh off a 7-10 record in 2023 after their season got derailed by their star quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ season-opening Achilles tear.

FAMU has three alumni with active NFL contracts: Markquese Bell (Dallas Cowboys), Isaiah Land (Indianapolis Colts), and Xavier Smith (Los Angeles Rams).

Brandon Hepburn was the last FAMU player to be selected in the NFL Draft in 2013.

Twelve Football Championship Subdivision players were picked in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, no HBCU players got their names called.

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

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers QB Moussa, RB Jennings, WR Riley, LB Major to NFL