FAMU football training camp: 6 transfers that Coach James Colzie III is excited about

Florida A&M football’s 2025 training camp has begun.

The Rattlers opened practice on Friday, Aug. 1, and took the field again on Saturday, Aug. 2. The next FAMU football practice is on Sunday, Aug. 3.

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Training camp is a time for FAMU’s new players and transfers to earn their keep and impress coaches in hopes of cracking the starting rotation.

FAMU has some new faces, and second-year head coach James Colzie III looks forward to seeing how they perform throughout training camp and the 2025 season.

“We got a pretty good long list of guys that are turning up and doing the right thing,” the FAMU coach said. “We just have to be able to sustain.”

Here are six new players Colzie believes could be significant for the Rattlers this season.

Quarterback: RJ Johnson III, Redshirt Sophomore

RJ Johnson III transferred from Toledo and got immediately placed in a position battle alongside a handful of FAMU quarterbacks.

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Johnson has played significant reps on the Rattlers’ offense during practice.

The Atlanta native didn’t get any game reps during his one year playing for the Toledo Rockets.

So, if he becomes FAMU’s starting quarterback, it will be his first-ever college snaps.

Quarterback: Jett Peddy, Junior

Hailing from Torrance, California, Jett Peddy has also been inserted into the Rattlers’ quarterback battle. He’s gotten a fair share of reps leading the FAMU offense at training camp, too.

A transfer from Long Beach City College, Peddy may be the most game-experienced in FAMU’s quarterback battle.

Peddy was a junior college star at Long Beach City, completing 200 passes on 339 attempts (59 percent) for 2,706 yards and 23 touchdowns against five interceptions.

“RJ Johnson, Jett Peddy ― those are two guys at quarterback that came in late for us,” Colzie said of the signal callers.

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Wide Receiver: Jamar Taylor Jr., Sophomore

Could Jamar Taylor Jr. be Colzie’s best-kept secret addition of the offseason?

The transfer wide receiver from Temple made a good first impression on the FAMU coach by hauling in a few receptions when the Rattlers started training camp on Friday.

“I haven’t made any reference to Jamar Taylor, who was a Division I wide receiver at Temple. He’s with us right now,” Colzie said. “That wasn’t even a guy that I mentioned. So, it’s hard not to talk about him when he was extremely impressive.”

Taylor, from Lakeland, got a bit of run during his lone year with the Temple Owls, hauling in 11 receptions for 80 yards as a freshman.

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Linebacker: Jason Riles Jr., Redshirt Junior

Jason Riles Jr. transferred to FAMU from the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he played from 2022 to the 2024 season.

While playing for the UAB Blazers, the Bessemer, Alabama native collected 17 tackles in three seasons.

Riles could become a key piece on the Rattlers’ rotation of talented linebackers as they look to help the unit reclaim its ‘Dark Cloud Defense’ moniker.

Cornerback: Caleb McKenzie, Redshirt Sophomore

Caleb McKenzie spent the spring with FAMU football and could be in play to man one of FAMU’s cornerback spots.

And he comes with game experience, as the Carver Ranches, Florida native transferred from playing for the South Dakota Coyotes from the 2022 to 2024 seasons.

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McKenzie had 38 tackles and five deflections for his career before leaving South Dakota to join the Rattlers.

Safety: TeQuan Latimore, Senior

Safety TeQuan Latimore turned heads during FAMU’s springtime practices, especially with his extensive 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame.

The North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers transfer continues to impress as training camp has begun.

“He had a great spring. He’s showing up in the summer,” Colzie said.

Latimore logged minimal playing time at Charlotte, but shined at Georgia Military College, intercepting opposing quarterbacks five times.

Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule

• Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU

• Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus

• Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV

• Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO

• Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TV

• Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GO

• Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN Plus

• Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TV

• Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN Network

• Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO

• Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV

• Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium)

• Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)

• Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)

• Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)

• Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville’s FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)

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All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football coach excited for Jett Peddy, RJ Johnson, more transfers