National Signing Day (NSD ’24) for the 2023 HBCU National Champion Florida A&M Rattlers and while 2024 got off to a rough start following the exit of former head coach Willie Simmons, FAMU football appears to have regained its footing in February with the hire of new head coach James Colzie and a National Signing Day recruiting class full of heavy hitters.
Three transfers from Florida State, the son of an HBCU legend from an HBCU rival, and a quarterback/wide receiver duo from Florida Atlantic are just a few of the storylines swirling around Tallahassee on National Signing Day.
The Florida A&M Athletics website and Rattler + app are featuring an NSD ’24 Live tracker with up-to-the-minute National Signing Day updates of all the National Signing Day recruits. We will keep an eye on the tracker and update this post throughout the day.
FAMU NSD ’24 SIGNING CLASS
FAMU NSD ’24: Rodney Hill
- Position: Running Back
- Ht./Wt.:5-10 / 190
- Class: Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown: Statesboro, Ga.
- Prev School: Florida State University
2022:
Appeared in four games…rushed 27 times for 144 yards and one touchdown…Seminole Scholar…made collegiate debut in season-opening 47-7 win vs. Duquesne…rushed nine times for 55 yards and one touchdown vs. Dukes…gained 41 yards on six carries in 41-16 win vs. Georgia Tech…totaled 31 yards on nine carries in 49-17 win vs. Louisiana…rushed three times for 17 yards in 44-14 win vs. Boston College…redshirted 2022 season.
BEFORE FSU:
Four-star prospect rated 235th in ESPN300…rated as No. 19 athlete nationally and 25th-best prospect in Georgia by ESPN…rated 26th athlete prospect in Class of 2022 and No. 45 overall in Georgia on 247 Composite…ranked 34th among athletes and 49th in Georgia by 247Sports…ranked as nation’s 42nd-best running back and 68th overall from Georgia by Rivals…rushed 38 times for 344 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.1 yards per carry, during senior season…also caught 12 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown…over his final two seasons, totaled 1,242 all-purpose yards with average of 138.0 yards per game…took snaps at wide receiver, running back and defensive back for Bulloch over final two seasons…also ran track and played basketball at Bulloch.
FAMU NSD ’24: Demorie Tate
- Position: Defensive Back
- Ht./Wt.:6-1 / 195
- Class: Redshirt Senior
- Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
- Prev School: FSU
2024 (R-Senior)
- Signed out of Florida State
2021 (R-Freshman at FSU)
Made collegiate debut vs. UMass.
2020 (Freshman at FSU)
Worked with FSU’s scout team while redshirting.
High School
Five-star cornerback ranked fifth nationally at his position according to 247Sports Composite…also ranked as No. 8 overall prospect in Florida and No. 50 nationally…No. 6 cornerback, 12th overall in Florida and 75th nationally according to Rivals…No. 83 in ESPN 300…2020 Under Armour All-American…competed in 2019 The Opening Finals…13th on 2020 Central Florida Super60…also played basketball and ran track…posted personal-best 10.91 in 100 meters his junior year…chose Florida State over multiple offers, including Miami, Alabama, Georgia and Auburn.
FAMU NSD ’24: Amari Johnson
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Ht./Wt.:5-10 / 160
- Class: Graduate Student
- Hometown: Miami, Fla.
- Prev School: UCF
2024 (Graduate)
- Transferred from UCF
2022 (Senior at UCF)
- Redshirted the season after suffering an injury in fall camp
2021 (Junior at UCF)
- Appeared in all 13 games, starting twice at wide receiver
- Fourth on the team with 23 receptions, totaling 138 receiving yards and one touchdown reception
- Also rushed seven times for 27 yards and one score on the ground
- Returned nine punts for 79 yards, an average of 8.8 yards per punt return
- Made six tackles on special teams
- Boise State (9/2): Caught two passes for nine yards and returned one punt for 12 yards
- Bethune-Cookman (9/11): Hauled in two receptions for 33 yards and returned two punts for 26 yards
- at Louisville (9/17): Recorded two catches for 12 yards and returned one punt for five yards
- at Navy (10/2): Rushed three times for 17 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run, and caught two passes for 10 yards
- ECU (10/9): Made first-career start, totaling six receptions for 33 yards and returning one punt for 14 yards
- at Cincinnati (10/16): Rushed one time for nine yards, caught three passes for 12 yards, and returned two punts, including an 11-yard return
- at SMU (11/13): Caught two passes for 15 yards
- UConn (11/20): Hauled in three receptions for 11 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown catch, and returned one punt for 19 yards
- vs. Florida (12/23): Rushed once for four yards and returned one punt for 13 yards in the Gasparilla Bowl
2020 (Sophomore at UCF)
- Appeared in nine games at receiver and on special teams
- Caught three passes for 12 yards on the season
- Tulsa (10/3): Caught two passes for 24 yards
2019 (Freshman at UCF)
- Appeared in seven games as a receiver and on special teams
- FAMU (8/29): Totaled 67 yards on two catches with a 49-yard touchdown in collegiate debut
- His score was the seventh longest touchdown reception of the season for the Knights
FAMU National Signing Day ’24: Alston Hooker
- Position: Quarterback
- Ht./Wt.:6-0 / 185
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
- Prev School: North Carolina A&T
Jayden Evans
- Position: Tight End
- Ht./Wt.:6-7 / 250
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Hometown: Eastvale, Calif.
- Prev School: Central Michigan University
2023
As a junior defensive lineman, saw action in eight games on the defensive line and on special teams … led the Chippewas in blocked kicks with two … blocked field goal at Ohio (11/15) … blocked PAT that was returned 87 yards for a point after attempt vs. Eastern Michigan (9/30) … saw first career game action at South Alabama (9/23).
2022
As a sophomore tight end, did not see any action … contributed as a backup tight end.
2021
As a true freshman tight end, did not see any game action.
FAMU NSD ’24: A’Ceon “Ace” Cobb
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Ht./Wt.:6-3 / 195
- Class: Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
- Prev School: FAU
2024 (R-Sophomore)
- Signed from Florida Atlantic
FAMU NSD ’24: Daniel Richardson
- Position:Quarterback
- Ht./Wt.:5-10 / 205
- Class: Graduate Student
- Hometown: Miami, Fla.
- Prev School: FAU
2024
- Transferred from Florida Atlantic
2023 (at FAU)
- Ended his night at Clemson completing 18 of 32 pass attempts for 120 yards and was charged with one interception and -18 rushing yards, on two carries
- Drew his first FAU start when the Owls traveled to Illinois. He was 28-49-1 for 256 yards and two scores. Richardson used his legs to gain an addition five yards on three carries
- Captured his first start at FAU and improved to 1-1 as a starter with a 20-17 win over Tulsa … was 18-28-1 for the night with the interception collected after deflected, for a total of 144 yards and added 14 rushing yards on five carries versus Tulsa
- Led the Owls to a 56-14 win over USF by completing 31-of-38 passes attempted for a total of 382 yards, his first 300+ yard game at FAU, and added a 22-yard carry
- Was 19-34-2 for 142 yards and was charged for -34 rushing yards in the Owls’ loss to UTSA
- Guided the Owls to a win over Charlotte with a 19-26-1 for 218 yard performance. Tossed three TD passes ad added six yards with his feet
- Led the Owls’ offensive attack completing 17 of 33 passes for a total 293 yards and three scores while adding two rushing yards versus UAB
- Completed two 24 passes for a total of 151 yards on 26 attempts versus ECU
- Started his night versus Tulane 8-for-8 and ended the afternoon 24-31-1 for a total of 202 yards and one TD
- Was 8-for-13 in his final 2023 outing for a total of 93 passing yards and added another five on two carries at Rice.
FAMU NSD ’24: Jameel Sanders
- Position: Defensive Back
- Ht./Wt.:6-1 / 190
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Hometown: Plainfield, N.J.
- Prev School: University of South Florida
2022 (LACKAWANNA CC): Saw action in seven games…made nine tackles (seven unassisted)…one QB pressure.
FAMU NSD ’24: Max Larson
- Position: Kicker
- Ht./Wt.:6-0 / 185
- Class: Redshirt Junior
- Hometown: Davie, Fla.
- Prev School: Florida State University
2022:
Worked with FSU’s scout team…ACC Honor Roll.
BEFORE FSU:
Handled kickoffs and field goals for St. Thomas Aquinas his senior year…earned honorable mention all-state recognition…was perfect 20-for-20 on PATs and 3-for-3 on field goals…53.9 yards per kickoff with five touchbacks…helped Raiders win 7A state championship in FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium…averaged 51.7 yards per kickoff and was 1-for-1 on field goals his junior year during St. Thomas Aquinas’ perfect 15-0 season…also played soccer…scored three goals as a junior to help Raiders reach regional semifinal round of 6A state playoffs.