FAMU signs 16 on National Signing Day

From Florida A&M Sports Information:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.| Florida A&M University head football coach announced 16 student-athletes signed national letters of intent on Wednesday to continue their athletic careers at FAMU, including three mid-year transfers and one junior college transfer.

“Signing Day is one of the most exciting times of the year, as you get to see who the new additions to the team will be,” Simmons said. “We’ve put in a lot of work over the last couple of months, identifying prospective student-athletes, hosting them on official visits and really showing them what FAMU has to offer. The guys we’ll add to the program today, we’re very excited about. We look forward to getting them here this summer and seeing what they can do as they help us begin our quest to winning a MEAC championship.”

Simmons landed nine offensive players, including five lineman, two wide receivers, one quarterback and one running back. On the defensive side of the football, the Rattlers signed seven players, including three defensive backs, three lineman and one linebacker.

Among the 16 players signed was the addition of Donald Hall, Orlando Heggs II and John Holcombe II as mid-year enrollees. The three student-athletes have been enrolled in the university this semester and will participate in spring practice and the annual Orange and Green game, which is set for March 28 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

2020 FLORIDA A&M FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS as of 2/5/20

• Played at Navarro College last season
• Registered 72 total tackles, with three interceptions
• Returned all three interceptions for touchdowns
• Ranked the fourth best safety in the nation according to 247Sports
• Redshirted freshman year under Kirby Smart at Georgia
• Attended Terrell County High School in Dawson, Ga.
• Selected to represent the East in the 2017 U.S. Army All-America Game
• Chose Florida A&M over offers from TCU and Texas State

• Played football at Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla. 
• An All-Big Bend Honorable Mention selection in 2018
• A two-year starter
• Graded out at 83 percent, with 113 pancakes as a starter
• Helped lead Godby to back-to-back playoff appearances
• Was also a member of the Godby track and field and weightlifting teams
• Participated in the discus in track and field 
• Participated in the 2020 Florida/Georgia War of the Border All-Star Game

• Played football at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports
• Tampa Bay Times All-Pinellas County Honorable Mention selection in 2019
• Two-year Captain
• Chose FAMU over Florida Atlantic and Toledo

• Played for head coach Rodney Welk at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.
• A three-star athlete ranked as the No. 136 cornerback in the 2020 class according to 247Sports and the No. 201 overall recruit from the state of Florida
• As a junior, registered 43 tackles, with eight pass breakups and one interception
• Chose FAMU over Michigan, Toledo, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon

• Played at Pahokee High School in Pahokee, Fla.
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN
• A 2019 Palm Beach Post First Team selection
• A 2019 Sun-Sentinel All-Country Honorable Mention selection
• Chose Florida A&M over Central Florida and Southern Miss

• Played for head coach Tommy Joe Widdon at Booker T. Washington High School
• Spent junior and senior season playing football
• Registered 63 tackles, including 17 for loss and nine sacks during senior season
• Named All-Area Second Team, DoWorks Sports First Team Defense
• A Subway All-Star
• Also played basketball for two seasons at Booker T. Washington High School
• Selected JV Basketball Championship MVP during the 2017-18 season

• Played football at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Ga.
• Named to the 2019 Atlanta Journal Constitution All-Metro Dekalb County Team
• Rated a two-star athlete by 247Sports and Rivals
• Helped lead Southwest DeKalb to back–to-back Region Championships
• Chose FAMU over Army, Georgia Southern, Kent State and Eastern Kentucky

• Attended Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Fla.
• Rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN
• As a senior, recorded 31 tackles with two interceptions
• Won three FHSAA State Titles at Chaminade-Madonna
• Chose FAMU over offers from multiple schools, including Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Boston College, Syracuse, Purdue and Appalachian State

• Attended Armwood High School in Seffner, Fla.
• Recorded 90 total tackles, included 19 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as a senior
• Named to the 2019 Tampa Bay Times All-Hillsborough County Second-Team
• Helped lead Armwood to the FHSAA Class 7A State Semifinals in 2019

• Attended South Dade High School in Homestead, Fla.
• Helped lead South Dade to back to back playoff appearances
• Chose FAMU over offers from UNLV, Southern Miss, Florida Atlantic, Alabama A&M and Rhode Island

• Attended Blountstown High School in Blountstown, Fla.
• Named the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Class IA Player of the Year
• Rushed for 1,950 yards and 22 Touchdowns in 2019
• In addition, he had 10 receiving touchdowns, four kick returns for TDs and two defensive scores
• Set the FHSAA State Championship single-game rushing record with 365 yards and five TDs.
• Also lettered in basketball

• Attended Goby High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
• Recorded 33 total tackles, with two sacks as a senior
• Helped lead Godby to the 2019 FHSAA Playoffs
• Selected to play in the 2020 Florida/Georgia War of the Border All-Star Game
• A member of the Godby track & field team
• Participated in the shot put and discus

• Played for head coach Brian Kemp at Hardee High School
• A three-star offensive tackle
• Chose Florida A&M over Alcorn State, Bethune-Cookman, South Florida, Florida State, Iowa State, Louisville, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB, Central Florida, Virginia and Western Kentucky

2020 FLORIDA A&M FOOTBALL MID-YEAR PLAYERS as of 2/5/20
 

• Transferred from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss.
• Saw action in six games as a freshman at Prairie View A&M in 2018
• Registered two tackles, one for loss, one forced fumble and on fumble recovery for the Panthers
• Played for head coach Shelby Ford at DeSoto Central High School
• Tabbed one of the top 40 players in the state of Mississippi

• Transferred from Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Did not see action and was redshirted during the 2018 season
• Played for legendary coach Corky Rogers in 2016 and Wayne Belger in 2017
• Rated the No. 92 offensive guard in the nation by 247Sports
• A three-star athlete by ESPN and 247Sports
• A first Team all-area and conference selection at The Bolles High School
• Invited to the Blue-Grey All-American game
• No. 30 on Jacksonville.com list of top recruits for 2018

• Transferred from Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.
• Played in three games under head coach Chris Klieman in 2019
• Went 1-for-3 passing for nine yards and rushed the ball eight times for 23 yards in a 52-0 win over Bowling Green
• Redshirted during the 2018 season
• Played for head coach Brian Ford at Summer Creek High School
• Rated the 13th-best dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018 by 247Sports, 28th by Rivals and 33rd by ESPN
• Viewed as the fifth-best dual-threat quarterback in the state of Texas by Lone Star Prospects
• Named the UIL District 21-6A Offensive MVP in 2017 after throwing for 2,369 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 551 yards and nine scores

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