Florida A&M University head football coach Joe Taylor's Rattlers have enough maturity and talent in key positions to challenge conference power South Carolina State Bulldogs for MEAC supremacy. FAMU defense gets best of offense in scrimmage
Defense ruled during the first preseason scrimmage for the Florida A&M football team, but the unit was overshadowed by two interceptions thrown by quarterback Martin Ukpai and high snaps that left coach Joe Taylor scolding his offense.
"The fact of it is we've got to get more protection," Taylor said following Saturday's scrimmage that was witnessed by a larger than usual crowd from the parking lot adjacent to FAMU's practice field. "Everything starts with the snap (and) when you get a bad snap nothing behind is going to go good. You just can't have miscues and expect to win. No matter how good you are you just can't give extra opportunities to the opponent."
Photo Gallery: Rattler football scrimmage
FAMU's Ojo overcomes tough injury
The excruciating pain began to feel more familiar the longer Oye Ojo waited on the sidelines for it to subside. He was in his first college football game and wanted to be a part of the Florida A&M special teams unit until the end. He wouldn't return after finding out midway through the fourth quarter that the ankle he'd fractured once before in high school was broken.
Stewart has potential as fan favorite
If there is one player who will be on the radar of every fan of Florida A&M football, it has to be Jerral Stewart. He is the heir apparent to LeRoy Vann, who set multiple NCAA and school records in his senior year as a punt and kickoff returner. Fair or not, Stewart knew it was coming because of the excitement that Vann created whenever he touched the ball. He was so effective that last season ESPN sent a crew to dissect his every move.
New faces add plenty of spice to FAMU
With the loss of 24 players who played their final game last season, Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor turned to transfers to reload both on offense and defense. In the mix are a few who never played a down of college football and some who played sparingly. But while all of the newcomers bring different strengths to the Rattlers program, they all have one thing in common — they want to contribute.
Rattlers beef up along the offensive line
During his end-of-the-season rewind, FAMU coach Joe Taylor made an observation from game film that he suspected was the reason that Florida A&M struggled in some games and suffered a season-defining loss to South Carolina State. He noticed that the Rattlers gave up too much on the offensive line.
"We knew the assignment," Taylor said. "We were into our responsibilities; we made contact but at some point I didn't think we had great mobility."
Ukpai back under center to lead Rattlers this year
Martin Ukpai got his first shot at playing quarterback because the starter on his high school team was suspended.
Up until the Florida Classic last season, it seemed he would have to wait at least two full seasons before he got a chance to compete for the starting job at Florida A&M. But when Curtis Pulley couldn't make the start in the season finale, coach Joe Taylor summoned Ukpai to another stand-in role. His performance was so dominating that it earned him the game's MVP trophy.
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