MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. –– Florida A&M football comes into this game with one of the nation's longest winning streak and looks to extend that streak to eight tomorrow afternoon versus Jackson State.
 
Where to watch or listen: 
Watch: ESPN
Listen: Rattlers+
 
Coaches in the game
Willie Simmons (Clemson, 2002 | The Citadel, 2003) 
Career Record: 54-23 (9th season, 2020 canceled due to COVID-19)
Record at FAMU: 33-12 (6th Season 2020 canceled due to COVID-19
 
T.C. Taylor (Jackson State, 2005)
Career Record: 1-0 (1st season) 
Record at JSU: 1-0 (1st season) 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN 
Overall: JSU lead 12-7-1
First Meeting: FAMU won 14-9 (1961)
Last Meeting: JSU won 59-3 (2022)
Streak: 4, JSU
 
RATTLERS ENTER TOP 25 
The Rattlers begin the season in the top 25, at number 25 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. This is the fourth season in a row the Rattlers have been ranked in the top 25.
 
RATTLERS WINNING STREAK 
The Rattlers enter the 2023 season on a nine-game win streak, currently the nation's third-longest.
 
SWAC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
The Rattlers offense looks to put up big numbers in 2023, with the Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year leading the way for the Rattlers in quarterback Jeremy Moussa. Moussa threw for over 2,700 yards (22nd in nation) and 21 touchdowns (18th in nation) in 2022.
 
PRESEASON FAVORITES 
The Rattlers were voted to win the SWAC East in the SWAC Predicted Order of Finish with 16 first-place votes.
 
RATTLER ALL-AMERICANS
The Rattlers have a handful of preseason All-Americans after going 9-2 in 2022. Transfer punter Trey Wilhoit highlights the list as he has been named to three All-American lists. Linebacker Isaiah Major, defensive back Kendall Bohler, and offensive linemen Jalen Goss and Cameron Covin join Wilhoit.
 
2022 PRESEASON HONORS
0, Isaiah Major, Linebacker
BOXTOROW Preseason All-American
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
 
2, Javan Morgan, Defensive Back
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman's Freak List
Aeneas Williams Award Watch List
Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
 
3, Kendall Bohler, Defensive Back
BOXTOROW Preseason All-American
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Defense
The Athletic's Bruce Feldman's Freak List
Aeneas Williams Award Watch List
Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
 
4, Marcus Riley, Wide Receiver
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
 
8, Jeremy Moussa, Quarterback
Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
Phil Steele Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
 
10, Jah'Marae Sheread, Wide Receiver / Punt Returner
Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense & Special Teams (WR, AP)
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Special Teams (PR)
 
 
28, Johnny Chaney Jr., Linebacker
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense
 
40, Dre Jones, Defensive Line
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Third Team Defense
 
58, Kardell Thomas, Offensive Line
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
 
61, Jalen Goss, Offensive Line
BOXTOROW Preseason All-American
Black College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
 
69, TJ Lee, Offensive Line
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Third Team Offense
 
76, Cameron Covin, Offensive Line
BOXTOROW Preseason All-American
Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Offense
 
81, Kamari Young, Tight End
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Offense
 
92, Gentle Hunt, Defensive Line
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC Second Team Defense
 
99, Trey Wilhoit, Punter
Athlon Sports Preseason All-American
Stats Perform Preseason All-American
Phil Steele Preseason All-American
Phil Steele Preseason All-SWAC First Team Special Teams
 
RETURNING STARTERS
The Rattlers return a total of ten starters on the offensive side of the ball, with their key departure being All-American wide receiver Xavier Smith and eight starters on the defensive side, losing All-Americans Isaiah Land (DE), BJ Bohler (DB), and Kamari Stephens (DE). 
 
On the special teams, the only returner is the 2021 nation's leading punt returner, Jah'Marae Sheread. 
 
MAJOR TRANSFERS
The Rattlers were active in the transfer portal as they added 34 transfers. Six of the 34 transfers come from Power-5 programs, including projected starters Jaquez Yant (Nebraska, RB) and Kardell Thomas (LSU, OL).
 
FLORIDA RATTLERS
The Rattlers have 77 student-athletes on their 2023 roster from the state of Florida. 15 are from Tallahassee. 
 
DUPLICATE NUMBERS
The Rattlers have 33 duplicate numbers in 2023. The duplicate numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 30, 32, 33, 39, 41, 43, 46, 55, 58, 66, 89, and 99.
 
COACHING CHANGES
The Rattlers added three new coaches for 2023: special teams coordinator Doc Gamble, wide receiver coach Antonio "AC" Carter, and nickelbacks coach Pat Watkins.
 
Coach Gamble joined the Rattlers after spending the last three seasons as the head coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. At UAPB, Gamble led the Golden Lions to a top-25 finish in both the coaches and media polls in 2000.
 
Coach Carter joined the Rattlers after spending the 2022 season as a wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Miles College after spending years away from football. In 2012, Carter was part of the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver room as an intern working with Colts all-time greats such as Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton.
 
Coach Watkins, a Tallahassee native, joined the Rattlers as the nickelbacks coach. Watkins played at Lincoln High School and Florida State before spending five years in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
 
HOME GAME WIN STREAK
The Rattlers have a 15-game home winning streak, the second longest in FCS.
 
TOP PUNTER
The Rattlers possess one of the top punters in the nation in Trey Wilhoit, as he ranked 6th in the nation with 44 yards per punt in 2022 at Eastern Illinois.
 
Scouting the Tigers
• The Tigers have a new quarterback leading the way and had a career game in his first game, throwing for 356 yards, three touchdowns, while completing 26 of his 30 passes.
• The Tigers' defense continues to impress after leading the nation in defense in 2022, as they held the South Carolina State Bulldogs to seven points and 201 yards total offense.
• Running back Irv Mulligan proved to be the Tigers' biggest rushing threat as he ran for 109 yards on 14 carries in the week zero win versus South Carolina State.
 
The Rattlers play Sunday, September 3, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
 
----  
 
Follow Florida A&M Athletics 
 
For complete coverage of Florida A&M athletics, please follow the Rattlers on social media at @FAMUAthletics (Twitter), FAMUAth (Facebook), and @famuathletics (Instagram).