TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Jelani Berassa is entering year five with the Florida A&M football team alongside quite a few athletes in his position group. The wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator recalls Xavier Smith's arrival as a non-scholarship walk-on and David Manigo's reserved demeanor. Berassa can also recount those early one-on-one conversations with Jah'Marae Sheread where the two discussed future aspirations. 
 
Well ... the future is now, and these young men are veteran playmakers who have "earned every single thing they've been given," said Berassa. The top three receivers from the Rattlers' 2022 roster are ready to strike. 
 
Berassa on Sheread: "When I recruited him here, we talked about everything that he's doing now. He's a starting receiver, one of our main playmakers, and the top punt returner in the country. We literally spoke these things. He manifested it and put the work in … He's a good leader on the team and is going to be a big reason why we have a great season this year."   
 
#10 Jah'Marae Sheread | WR | 5-7 | 175 | R-Sr. | Houston, Texas / Texas State
 
2022: Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-American
 
2021: Debut season at Florida A&M after transferring from Texas State … STATS Perform Third Team All-American (PR) … ranked 19th in the country with a team-high nine receiving touchdowns … returned a punt for a touchdown … guided the team with 1,220 all-purpose yards (622 receiving, 358 punt return, 222 kick return) 
 
Berassa on Smith: "Everyone knows who Xavier Smith is. [Xavier] is the type of kid that's going to get what he deserves because he works his tail off ... When I first came in, he had not played one down yet. He wasn't even on scholarship … Xavier is an all-around good person, and the work ethic that comes with his God-given ability is the product you end up seeing on Saturdays. He's a first team all-conference receiver and a preseason All-American. The expectations have already been set for him, but he's the type of player who wants it all. And he's going to chase it down and get it." 
 
#19 Xavier Smith | WR | 5-10 | 170 | Gr. | Haines City, Fla
 
2022: Preseason All-SWAC First Team (Offense) … East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
 
2021: HERO Sports Preseason All-American … STATS Perform Preseason All-American … led the Rattlers' 2021 receiving corps with 713 receiving yards (the sixth most in the SWAC) … ranked 21st in the FCS, averaging 5.8 receptions per game … added four touchdowns (three receiving) … finished with 1,0006 all-purpose yards (including 60 punt return yards and a team-high 229 kick return yards) 
 
2019: MEAC First Team … led the MEAC in receiving yards (1,159) and receptions (77) … the only MEAC receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards … finished second in the MEAC in touchdown receptions (11) … ranked fifth nationally in receiving yards per game, ninth in receptions per game, ninth in receiving yards, and 16th in receiving touchdowns. 
Berassa on Manigo: "If I have to say I'm most pleased with just the development of one guy in my room, it would be David Manigo, just knowing the guy he was as a true freshman. Initially, Manigo really didn't ever say a lot of words. He never really spoke a lot. He was just locked in. Again, his work is what you see on Saturdays. He was not always the receiver that you all see now. He really developed his game and has all the potential to be another all-conference player." 
 
#85 David Manigo | WR | 6-3 | 190 | R-Sr. | Decatur, Ga.
 
2021: Notched the third most receiving yards (365) and receptions (31) on the team … caught lone touchdown in the FCS Playoff game at SLU … caught a season-high seven receptions for 82 yards in the 30-7 win over SC State 
 
2019: Finished second on the team with 575 receiving yards on 41 catches … hauled in five touchdowns. 
   
Berassa also name-dropped a few wideouts that "the world better watch out for" in Christopher Sanders II, Trevonte Davis, and a few incoming signees that Rattler Nation will soon learn about. Name after name, Berassa boasted about his unit. Darian Oxendine has "really developed his game" and is expected to have a breakout season. Kareem Burke and Michael Townsend -- true freshmen -- are "lights out with all the ability in the world." 
 
"We have a group of guys that can definitely get it done. They love the game and are really, really thirsty to win … it's a recipe for disaster for everyone else."  
 
There are 13 Rattlers listed as receivers on the 2022 roster, and the breakdown includes two true freshmen, two sophomores, one redshirt-sophomore, three redshirt-juniors, three redshirt seniors, and a graduate student. 
 
Receivers Returning: Derrick Hall, Jermaine Hawkins, Christian Jones, David Manigo, Darian Oxendine, Christopher Sanders II, Jah'Marae Sheread, Xavier Smith 
 
Receivers Lost: Chad Hunter, Donovan Mobley  
 
Newcomers: Kareem Burke (Raines High School), Trevonte Davis (Wayne State University), Ce'Zaun Enge (Minnesota State Community & Technical College), Jalon Howard (Norland High School), Michael Townsend (Rickards High School) 
 
Fans may visit FAMUAthletics.com/tickets for all their ticket needs.
 
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