FAMU Football: Seven Quarterbacks Gear Up for Thrilling 2025 Season!

Rockledge, Florida, USA - As the summer sun blazes down on Florida A&M University (FAMU), anticipation is building for the upcoming 2025 football season. The Rattlers are making some serious moves, especially in the quarterback department, as they prepare to kick off their season. With a lineup boasting both seasoned players and promising newcomers, FAMU’s football team is definitely turning heads.

Recruitment has been active at FAMU, and the team has added five new quarterbacks to its roster: Tyler Jefferson, RJ Johnson III, Jett Peddy, and Lawrence Wright IV, alongside high school signee RJ Mayes. This brings the total number of quarterbacks on the roster to seven, with returning players such as Traven Green and Bryson Martin also looking to make their mark this season. The excitement surrounds the decision of who will take the helm as the starting quarterback, following in the footsteps of two successful predecessors: Jeremy Moussa and Daniel Richardson, both of whom received honors in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and were HBCU All-American honorable mentions. According to Yahoo Sports, the competition will be fierce with such a deep quarterback pool.

Quarterback Profiles

Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout players vying for the starting position:

• Traven Green: The Rockledge native is a redshirt freshman standing 6’2″ and weighing 170 lbs.
• Tyler Jefferson: Formerly from Central Michigan, he’s a redshirt sophomore at 6’0″ and 235 lbs. In 2024, he showed versatility with 286 passing yards and also contributed on the ground with 282 rushing yards.
• RJ Johnson III: A transfer from Toledo, this 6’2″, 210 lbs redshirt sophomore is bringing fresh energy to the squad.
• Bryson Martin: This Clearwater local and redshirt junior stands 6’3″ at 195 lbs, with a notable moment last season leading to 6 yards off a single completion.
• RJ Mayes: Hailing from Marianna, this high school signee is slightly shorter at 5’10“ but packs a punch with last year’s stats showing 1,678 passing yards.
• Jett Peddy: A transfer from Long Beach City College, Peddy throws with proficiency, boasting 2,706 passing yards in 2024.
• Lawrence Wright IV: This redshirt freshman transferred from Florida and stands at an impressive 6’1″, weighing 243 lbs.

A Legacy of Quarterbacks at FAMU

FAMU has a robust history of developing exceptional quarterbacks, earning the reputation of a “quarterback university” among HBCUs. Notable alumni from this legacy include Ken Riley Sr., an NFL star who dazzled fans with his dual-threat capabilities in the 1960s, and Oteman Sampson, the first true Gulf Coast Offense quarterback. Sampson’s records in the late 90s set the bar high for future players. This tradition of excellence remains a vital part of FAMU’s football identity, as highlighted by HBCU Gameday.

This year, the acquisition of C.J. Montes, a Walter Payton Award finalist from Fordham, adds another layer of excitement. Standing 6’2″ and weighing 205 lbs, Montes is known for his impressive statistical performance, including 3,000 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in 2023. After a brief injury setback in the 2024 season, Montes is eager to contribute to FAMU’s ambitions to compete for the SWAC title. The fact that he turned down initial offers from other schools to join the Rattlers speaks volumes about his commitment. His declaration, “Rattler nation… I’m home,” expresses his enthusiasm for joining this historic program, as per HBCU Sports.

As the season opener against Howard Bison on August 30 approaches, fans are buzzing with excitement. The Rattlers’ schedule promises thrilling matchups, including key games against Albany State, Alabama State, and Jackson State. With all this talent and history, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one for the books.