Florida A&M

Updated: July 2021

Jelani Berassa became the wide receivers coach for the football program at Florida A&M University in 2018. Head coach Willie Simmons elevated Berassa to passing game coordinator following the 2019 season. 

Berassa was instrumental to the development of All-American wide receiver Xavier Smith. In Smith’s redshirt freshman season, he posted 52 receptions, 727 receiving yards, and four touchdowns in 2018. Smith improved his numbers immensely during his redshirt sophomore season, as he posted 77 receptions, 1,159 receiving yards (No. 10 in the nation), and 11 touchdowns (No. 11 in the nation) in 2019.

Berassa, a native of Miami, began his coaching career at Delaware State, where he was wide receivers coach and camp director from 2014-2017. Berassa will recruit the Miami, Broward County, Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie, and Pahokee areas.

Berassa is a 2013 graduate of Youngstown State University (YSU), where he majored in criminal justice. Berassa played wide receiver at YSU, where he was a two-year captain. Berassa had a stellar career with YSU, achieving the single-game record for receiving yards.

Berassa has a daughter, Jamia Akia Berassa.

Coaching History
 

Year	School (Title)
2014-17	Delaware State (Wide Receivers Coach)
2018-19	Florida A&M University (Wide Receivers Coach)
2020-	Florida A&M University (Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach)