Florida A&M beat reporter Gerald Thomas predicts MEAC/SWAC Challenge & Rattlers season.

hello everyone and welcome to another HBCU Sports exclusive interview I am Jared Hoffman and the HBCU football season is back ladies and gentlemen as you are watching this it is the night before the meak swag challenge where the reigning and defending swag Champions and celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M will make their season debut against the Mak representative of Northfolk state in the Mak swag Challenge and here to help me break down the game and taking a look at the Florida A&M side of things is tallahassee.com reporter Gerald Thomas Gerald thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy schedule to speak with me and break down the matchup and forid the ANM season going forward yeah man it's an honor to be here man I I can't believe it um football season is back this is my third football season covering the Rattlers so man I'm I'm I'm excited for it start starting the season where where they ended it at so so it's gonna be an exciting one so let's just start off by giving some initial thoughts on Florida andam entering this season you know they had a adventurous off season to put it likely you know they had you know of course Willie Simmons is now at Duke you know you're bringing in James Coy to be the team's head coach you have the reigning offensive and defensive player of the year now gone from the team you you're ushering in a new quarterback will get into him a little bit later and you have a host of players on especially especially on the defensive end like gentle hunt Johnny Cheney all entering the portal so you're you bringing in the new cast of character characters on defense so give me some of your initial thoughts on Florida A&M as they enter the 2024 season looking to go back toback yeah I think it's still I think it's still a very talented team from last year the good thing about it was that they promoted within and and brought and uh Brock Co and as the head coach you know he was already the he's already the assistant head coach and quarterback's coach so it was good that they got continuity there and I think that kind of helped you know those guys that that they lost in the portter those probably were maybe guys that were maybe thinking about intern anyway and there also a good look for fam mu because those guys moved up to the power forward teams you know FBS teams so that show the talent that fam you has but they've brought in a lot like you said new quarterback Daniel Richardson who will be getting the start on Saturday and U man who else they got so many transfers man I'm still getting used to some of the guys that they got but of course Daniel Richardson the G defense that that that they really been raving about is uh Davon westm he he's a transfer from Kansas so it's been a very eventful thing but I mean what coach Coy told me was basically when they lose those guys in the pter they try to look for guys that can duplicate their their productivity so I think they did a pretty good job hitting the portal they got one of the strongest um um recruiting classes in the in the FCS so I think they still gonna be a very Ted team I don't I I don't I don't everybody think that that it's going to be a drop off I mean it it it may not be last year's team but I still think this team right here is going to be very taly absolutely absolutely so they were obviously picked to uh finish second in the swack East and behind Alabama State an emerging team with uh head coached by uh Eddie Robinson who I believe is in his third year with the team did did you think that when you saw that did you think it was a fair uh pre pre seon pick you know it is it because it's usually customary of the defending Champion to be pick number one because you know it's it's the the mindset of you they have to see you you were on top the last time we saw you and and until someone else beat you you are the man so did you did you see that as kind of a slight to the team or what did you think it was fair because of all the changes that happened in offseason I think fam I think fam you deserve the number one ranking I mean I know you know with the shakeup and all that is you may be unsure about who you're going to who you want to put in the number one spot but I think when you don't know just just go with the number one team when you don't know just just go with the number one team so um I think they deserve the number one ranking but I also think it's like I think I think that's gonna be a motivating factor you know because it's like dang we just won a championship what more what more do we have to prove you know to get that number one ranking so that I think that's going to create a showdown for fam with Al state that might be the most anticipated game in the swag this year so so you know I think that me if I was a voter I would pick FAMU at number one I understand Alabama State expected to have a pretty good team and they're pretty competitive with FAMU but just FAMU has had better record outputs over the last few years so I don't know I I think FAMU definitely uh should have been number one and on top of that you know all the rankings that come out got FAMU in the rankings and there's no other SWAT school at HBCU nowhere to be found so I think FAMU definitely deserve that number one ranking just one more question about you know the offseason and we'll get into previewing the game you know uh there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding Florida A&M and of course we s we already talked about you know them being picked second in the preseason rankings but in years past the the the the the stigma was can they get over the hump now that they have gotten over the hump and they're in this they're in this uh SE of well can they do it again is this team good enough yeah what what do you think that I mean I've already kind of said the thing but what do you think among the team where where where where is their mindset at in terms of obviously they want to repeat but is it is there any motivation to shut people up or do you think it's just let's handle business weak I think oh to Simply put it I think something that Kelvin Dean the running back said he said last year teams got a championship this team the 2024 team doesn't have a championship so that's the mindset I think they're going to I mean you're going for a repeat but I think they're looking at it as we did it last year but we didn't do it this year so that's what we're trying to accomplish right right and that's a good mindset to have you know not not to get that Championship hangover you know bring it into the new mindset I like that so let's talk about this team here you know the obviously the big story going into the game is Daniel Richardson who was named the uh QB starter the QB W for week one kind of not shocking if you saw the uh the how the pecking Gorder was but for those who don't know him he is a transfer from Central Michigan Florida Atlantic had a a tremendous 2021 season had about 2600 yards 24 touchdowns to just a six interceptions had another 2,000 yard season last year with Florida Atlantic from from your eyes what have you seen from Daniel Richardson and what do you believe his ceiling is with this team he knows how to run the offense I give him that he he comes in and play quarterback and he moves and he moves them down the field um and also like you said he has FBS experience you know it's it was kind of it was kind of a the quarterback battle I mean you got one quarterback in junior who was uh you know he's been there since 2021 but then you had had Daniel Richardson who had the experience over him so um so you know I think that plays a very that played a very uh deciding factor in my opinion in the decision making process um so I think Dan Rich everybody say that he's a short guy and all that but and people say oh we're concerned about if he's gonna be able to see with the offensive line I'm like FBS offensive line are bigger than famu's offensive line you know um so he was able to see F over them over them he was able to throw for 2500 and 2,000 yards you know when he was playing on that level so he won't have a problem doing this so I think he'll do a very good job in and U running the offense it may take him a little bit time to get adapted but I I think I think he'll do pretty well and as far as The Supporting Cast around him obiously Terrell Jennings is now gone he's playing for the New England Patriots hopefully he makes that their 53 man roster if not the practice squad you know Jamaria sharid is gone you got Marcus Riley is gone so he's got a entirely new Supporting Cast of characters around him but the one person who is back two people who are back in the back field you have Kelvin Dean then you got ja W yant neither of whom have carried the load of being the full-time starter and getting the the production of a starter so what do you forecast for those those two backs do you see either one sticking out over the other or do you think that it'll be a situation where they share the load a bit Yeah well uh Jo he's no longer on the team um so they have uh B Somerset that's a guy that they brought in last year is B Somerset and um and Kelvin Dean and I mean fam usually runs a running back by committee even when Terrell Jen now he's in the NFL but he was in the running back by committee um basically his whole time at FAMU with sharing with Bishop Bonnet and and um you know just gaed that Kelvin Dean last year and jayen McLoud 2022 um so I think that's just something that FAMU does they're not going to um you know run a feature back they're goingon to have it by ComEd and everybody have their different skill sets so that's going to help they they have a very I think the Back Field would be very good Kelvin Dean is a running back that's Speedy that can catch out the back field both Su say is kind of power and and and speed you know if you can get him out in the open field and so I think he'll do well and then on the wide wide receiver you got a key returner uh Jamari gasset um he joined the team last season and I mean he had to sit behind Jamari shared and Marcus Raley but he still had about 25 catches a little over 300 yards and and a handful of touchdowns so um I think the offens I think the offensive Weaponry would be pretty good and what helps is um the offensive line has a lot of continuity too all those guys everybody that's starting has has started that FAMU before um except for one transfer that come in so I think the offense will be pretty solid I think that offensive line is gonna help them get get them there too absolutely so now we got to get into the the the star of the team which is the defense you know we had some good you had some very good offensive players obviously Jeremy Musa who won the swack offensive player of the year but that defense cover covered a multitude of s Whenever there was some some inconsistencies on offense that defense always found a way to make the game changing play espe especially in the celebration Bowl when we last saw him you know Isa Isaiah major got the interception to seal that game but as we said there's a completely new unit Isaiah major is gone now Johnny Cheney's gone now jentle Hunt's gone now you know kend bowler is obviously still there but other than Kendall bowler who many of us expect will be one of the top corners in the OR defensive backs in the swag who are some names that we could look for from that defense that could potentially keep that dark cloud defense rolling yeah the defensive line um stack um Allan Smith who was who was a guy that played last year uh one of the first guys I mentioned was called DAV Davon westm who playing on that defensive end James Ash um uh cam Donald to transfer from kentha State and I feel like I'm for getting people and you know and and if and if they watch it they like man he forgot me but you know that just goes to show how many guys that they have you know you got kle bowler on the outside uh Gardner playing The Corner Spot uh DBS a solid um linebackers uh you know you got Eric horn the guy who exp since 2022 and been waiting his turn played on the FBS level at Iowa State and been at fam you the past two seasons you know trying to get into that you know get some reps at linebacker and now he's one of the guys that's playing linebacker and you got the transfer coming in uh Jerome Nichols from Michigan he's going for a repeat he won the national championship at Michigan now he's trying to win one at FAMU so I think the defense is gonna be pretty solid I know it's under new leadership with Milton Patterson um but Coach Patterson he's been there since 2021 um so he's developed a lot of guys so I I think I I think the D think the Dolph Kyle defense will will end up being one of the top units in the nation again so I was reading your uh your preview of The Game and one of your predictions your bold predictions you said that the defense is gonna get three turnovers in the game so it obviously norol State we'll get more into norol state in a second but the biggest story out of norol state is we heard that their starter Aro Coons has been suspended for the first four games so do you do you think that this defense could get out go out fast or do you think that this is a situation where they this is spread out throughout the game when do you for forecast that these these turnovers will come these turnovers happen I'll say I'll say third quarter I say I think they gonna have a very I'll say a very big third quarter I'm gon say a very big third quarter that that made the side game might be close you know first game J so it might be close in the first half but I think third quarter is when fam is really going really gonna try to run away with that thing so so yeah so and Jaylen DS you know he got a very tall Tas his first D1 start playing to against one of the best units in the nation so uh I'm gonna say three turnover three turnovers yeah so they're obviously facing a norol State team that didn't exactly have the best season last year had finished with a three and eight record were about one and4 in M competition but if you watched them last year they were a team that know how to hang around they they gave orgon State a good test they gave H Howard the reigning M Champions a good test so what chances do you believe of Northfolk State potentially pulling off an upset and if they do and if they are able to pull off an upset how could it happen if if Northfolk State pull off a upset it would have to be a mistake field game by FAMU that's the only way they got to force him to make mistakes if they want to like you know force them to turn the ball over it got it's it got to be a situation for FAMU is beating itself that's how North Folk State can come out and and pull it off and I know they trying to turn that program around uh I watched the Mi at SWAT press conference over the summer and Coach Odum sound like he was you know ready to get it get this thing roll in so um if if they able to pull off us that that'll be a very good start knocking off the defending HBCU Champions and who if there are any players that you know of from norol state that you believe could be a a threat to uh FAMU that somebody that FAMU has to watch out for if they don't watch out for this player they could potentially go crazy in this game who is that one player that you believe norol state has that could potentially have a good game for them yeah I say y they got a very good Lineback at AJ Richardson he actually was on I might have put him on my on my uh HBC All-American B ballot you know just looking at his numbers and things so you know they got a few guys on the defense you know the the name the names kind of Escape me a little bit but I know the a Richardson name um I know he's he's a pretty big player uh over at Northfolk state so uh fam you might want to do a little bit of running away from him you know and and not sending too many people up the middle you know sending them sending them uh receivers on them Crossing rods because they might might run into uh run to AJ Richardson um if they if they if they ain't careful all right so now we got the big question here who wins tomorrow what's the final score just let's just leave it at that who wins tomorrow what's the final score FAMU wins 23 to7 FAMU beats North for 23 to7 tomorrow is this a get out they get out quick kind of thing or get get it over quick and painless or do they gotta work for it it's it's gonna be it's gonna be close in the first half but I but I think it's going I think it's I think it's gonna separate think it's gonna separate um once once the second half come around I think it's going to be a little slow you know like I said first game Jitters but I think when the second half roll around I think fam you gonna get rocking and rolling um and get some turnovers and and and that'll be all she wrote All Right Now the final question the real the real question what people want to know how does FAMU season end up what is their final record are they swag Champions and are they back in the celebration bow yeah so this what I this what I did I predicted the season um maybe maybe a week week a couple weeks ago I I got FAMU going nine and three I got him going nine and three uh still winning the swag still making it to the Celebration Bowl I got FAMU their ceiling is 10- two that's their ceiling 10- two their floor is eight and four so I think they're going to win between eight and 10 games basically if if I had to go in my gut I'll say nine and three but it's impossible they can win 10 games too so but you know if they go eight and four you know they may live in a world where they have to fight for a swack Championship spot they may have to travel for the swag Championship this year if they go 10 and two they comfortable if they go 9 and three maybe not as comfortable but pretty comfortable so I'm going say n and three but it can very easily be 10- two man in a in a swag that's kind of there's a lot of questions going around a nine and three 10 and two even a eight and4 season that would be very impressive with an entirely new unit with a a lot of questions going around the swack and I I I I would hope that that goes well for them you know that' be a great story for James Coy who you know obviously there was a lot going around with the coaching search in Florida and they gone through so that that will be absolutely great for them but I I'm just excited to get the season started as you guys are watching this it'll probably either be in a couple of hours or it probably be tomorrow that the game is happening but I'm just looking forward to watching it go down but thank you so much Gerald for your time if you can just let everyone know that where they can find you or your social media platforms or where they can find all your work yeah I'm on Twitter uh I'm on Twitter my name is 3 PG the number three the letter P the letter E the letter A the letter T the letter G the letter E the letter e think I spelled it right if I ain't spelled it right y'all figured it out but but yeah uh that's where you can find me I put all my work on there and um and I look forward to support man I appreciate you for having me on man man it's time for it's football time man yeah I appreciate you taking the time and previewing the game with us but thank you everybody for watching if you can please like And subscribe and follow us at all of our social media platforms at a real HBCU Sports on Facebook HBCU Sports on Twitter on HBCU Sports on Instagram and come to HBCU sports.com for all the latest news and HBCU Sports until next time see you guys peace out