TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M football team entered preseason camp with various questions swirling about. How will the offensive line replace stalwarts like two-time All-American Keenan Forbes or All-SWAC honoree Jay Jackson-Williams? And how will it continue to build on last season's success?
 
The Rattlers led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in fewest sacks allowed while ranking third in scoring and fourth in total offense. When analyzing these numbers, the o-line deserves its share of the credit -- guys like Forbes, Jackson-Williams, and returners Cameron Covin, Bryan Crawford, and TJ Lee. 
 
#76 Cameron Covin | 6-4 | 285 | R-Sr. | Leesburg, Ga.
 
2022: Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
 
2021: Recorded 11 starts primarily at right tackle 
 
#56 Bryan Crawford | 6-2 | 305 | Gr. | Pahokee, Fla.
 
2021: Participated in six games 
 
#69 TJ Lee | 6-3 | 315 | So. | Quincy, Fla.
 
2021: Appeared in seven games as a true freshman (primarily at left guard) … received his first career start at South Carolina State   
The line lists six newcomers – three true freshmen and three college transfers – and will be coached by a familiar face in Joseph Henry. The newly-tabbed offensive coordinator and offensive line coach returned to the highest of the seven hills in February 2022 after spending time in the Southeastern Conference at Louisiana State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Missouri.
 
FAMUAthletics.com recently caught up Coach Henry for a brief interview. 
 
Coach, welcome back to FAMU. What factored into your decision to return to the program, and how has your experience been so far? 
 
Well, for me, it was an easy decision [to return to Florida A&M]. It's based on relationships, that is, my relationship with Coach [Willie] Simmons. We go back a long way. We've worked together for a long time before, and it was a no-brainer, an easy decision. Plus, it gave me an opportunity to advance my career with the coordinator title. It's something I've strived for, I set a goal for myself, and he gave me the opportunity to realize that goal.
 
As far as how it's gone, this program is in significantly better shape than when I last left - the talent, the investment that has been put into the program. The staff size is bigger. The administration has really put an emphasis on the value of the football program. These are all things that are night and day differences from when I left in 2019.
 
What is your coaching philosophy? What are a few tangibles/intangibles that you're looking for in your group?  
 
I believe in relationships. I believe that you can't push a player until you have a solid relationship with him. I also believe in confronting anything that's falling short of our standard. Our motto for this camp is that excellence is the standard, so we expect excellence and will correct and coach anything that falls short of that. Some tangibles that I think we have to have on the offensive line – we've got to play big, so size is a real premium. We're in the state of Florida, where we've got a lot of athletes, so I naturally have the opportunity to recruit and coach athletic offensive linemen. The intangibles I'm looking for – guys have to be able to learn and communicate. If they can learn the schemes and calls and have a high level of communication, then we're able to operate as a unit and work as one. Communication and football intelligence are very important. 
 
How is camp going? Can you share a few positives that you've seen so far? 
 
Cam has been successful thus far. The most positive thing that I've seen is the competitive depth. We've got guys at several positions that are really duking it out for starting spots, duking it out for backup spots.
 
What has it been like integrating the newcomers into the team? How has the adjustment been for the freshmen? 
 
Our players have done a great job of including these guys; most of them got here in the summertime. The program, as a whole, does a great job of engulfing these guys and dunking them head first into the culture. They've done a really good job of following the leadership, picking up the things we do and how we operate. They are integrated fully into the program even at this early stage of fall camp.
 
Can you talk about your veterans, players like Covin, Crawford, and Lee? 
 
Those guys have a wealth of knowledge. They are true veterans. Even though TJ [Lee] is young, he's played a lot of snaps of college football last season. They've done a really good job of getting with the younger guys, getting with the new guys, and spending extra time working with them. Their wisdom and knowledge of the game and this offensive system are invaluable. They are leading the way for us as the trailblazers of our group.
 
Returners: Chad Brooks, Cameron Covin, Bryan Crawford, Kendarius Cunningham, Charles Davis, TJ Lee, Ricky Taylor, Khamari Thompson
 
Lost: Michael Arnold, Jalen Brayboy, Keenan Forbes, Orlando Heggs II, Jay Jackson-Williams, Delonus Kabir, Jhebari Martin, Jalen Spady, Jordan White
 
Newcomers: Tommy Bridgewater Jr. (Paxon School for Advanced Studies), TJ Demas (Clearwater Central Catholic High School), Jalen Goss (Florida State University), Cesar Reyes University of South Florida), Myron Ward (Rickards High School), Dariyon Weeden (Cisco College)
 
 Fans may visit FAMUAthletics.com/tickets for all their ticket needs.
 
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