Since the last ball was snapped in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, there was one big question that became prevalent for the HBCU National Champion Florida A&M (FAMU) Rattlers. Who would replace SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Jeremy Moussa under center? Five days before the season-opening Week Zero HBCU football classic, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, FAMU head football coach James Colzie II revealed that Daniel Richardson would get the first snaps under center for the Rattlers.
It ended speculation that built in the camp since Spring practice when Richardson, an experienced quarterback at the FBS level, transferred into FAMU to finish his career.
Richardson comes into his HBCU era with more in-game experience than returning quarterback Junior Muratovic. In 2023, he joined the FAU Owls and threw for over 2,000 yards. He completed over 64.6 percent of his passes resulting in 13 touchdowns. He completed 208 passes out of 322 attempts.
Daniel Richardson transferred to FAMU in January of 2024 and has been working with the offensive system and has become increasingly comfortable in it. His work ethic and experience played into the FAMU staff’s selection of him as the starter.
New FAMU quarterback coach Henry Burris, offensive coordinator Joe Henry, and Colzie all combined for the decision. Colzie was very clear on his radio show tonight that in no way was it a runaway decision. “Junior has done a great job this camp. We will make sure Junior has an opportunity to play a lot. He’s still there. I know Junior and he will be working hard up until Saturday,” Colzie said.
Muratovic has some starts under his belt and has additional playing time for the orange and green. In 2021, he saw significant playing time in the Orange Blossom Classic as a backup for Rasean McKay. McKay would falter as the Rattlers like everyone else had been off for almost two years. Muratovic had moderate success in his production, especially for a true freshman. He would earn the start for the next game for the Rattlers, but would ultimately be replaced by McKay who finished the season under center for the Rattlers in a 9-2 campaign.
In 2022, he saw additional action as a backup to Moussa. In 2023, he would get additional playing time as well as a start for FAMU. Against Lincoln (CA.), on Nov. 11, he would lead the Rattlers to a 28-0 victory. In that game, he would complete 8-of-18 passes for 82 yards in a game that was mostly a running game.
The Rattlers will open the HBCU football season on Saturday at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Norfolk State at Center Parc Stadium on the campus of Georgia State University. The game will begin at 7:30 PM on ABC.