NCAA Transfer Portal Reopens. What positions and team needs should FAMU football target?

Back to the recruiting grind.

Now that Florida A&M football has finished its spring practice period, the focus now shifts primarily onto fielding prospects as the summer looms.

The NCAA Transfer Portal reopened on Saturday, April 15 ― the same day that the Rattlers were playing in their Orange and Green Spring Game.

FAMU had its junior day for 2024 prospects along with transfer prospects mixed in for around 200 recruits attending last Saturday.

As the Rattlers look to round out their upcoming fall roster, let's see what areas head coach Willie Simmons and director of recruiting Devin Rispress should tackle before the transfer portal spring window closes.

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What does FAMU already have?

The Rattlers were productive in midyear recruiting ― netting fifteen transfers that practiced with the team in the spring.

A big focus for FAMU was the running back room after experiencing struggles in the ground game last season. Former local high school stars Jaquez Yant (Godby/Nebraska) and Kelvin Dean Jr. (Rickards/FAU) headlined the Rattlers new crop of running backs.

FAMU now has nine options from the backfield as another newcomer Vershod Quinn (Bethune-Cookman) has showed his ability to break away from defenders with his speed.

The Rattlers are pretty deep on the offensive front since most of the starters of last season are returning for this season.

Offensive linemen Ashton Grable (Jacksonville State) and Janik Ogunlade (Buffalo) transferred to FAMU to add some depth. Grable shined during the spring and manned the right tackle spot.

On Tuesday, the Rattlers landed a commitment from former LSU five-star offensive lineman Kardell Thomas after he visited campus last Saturday.

FAMU also has its punter in Chiles alumnus Trey Wilhoit, who was a 2022 FCS Punter of the Year semifinalist while he played at Eastern Illinois.

What does FAMU need?

The Rattlers have a few spots they'd like to fill.

Xavier Smith's graduation was a big loss to FAMU. So, don't be surprised if the team adds a wide receiver or two.

Jamari Gassett from Buffalo and Godby alumnus and UAB transfer Tyler Pye were the newcomers to the team through the portal.

With Smith gone, wide receiver room will have to be even more cohesive to put in more of a team effort ― the more, the merrier.

The Rattlers defensive line was also rather thin during the spring in part to Gentle Hunt (ankle) and Dre Jones (shoulder) recovering from offseason surgeries, missing the spring.

Garden City Community College transfer Tyrese Gibson-Battles practiced during the spring, but some added depth will help shoulder the load while Hunt and Jones rehab to return to the field.

FAMU is projected to have two young kickers in redshirt freshman Joshua Romeo and Maclay's Michael Smith.

But the Rattlers may go for a kicker with in-game experience.

Former Stetson kicker Cameron Gillis had an official visit during the spring game. He played in 23 career games and has experience as a kicker and punter.

He made 9 of 11 of his field goal attempts and 36 of 36 PAT's with the Hatters in 2022.

FAMU football's 2023 Recruiting Class

DB Zavion Battle ― College of the Sequoias

QB DJ Boney ― Eastern Kentucky

DB Justin Bostic ― Palm Beach Central High School

RB Cedric Byrd ― Gadsden County High School

RB Kelvin Dean Jr. ― Florida Atlantic/Rickards High School

WR/KR Jamari Gassett ― Buffalo

DL Tyrese Gibson-Battles ― Garden City Community College

DB Jalen Glaze ― Minnesota/Lincoln High School

OL Ashton Grable ― Jacksonville State

RB Orel Gray ― University Christian School

DB Ah'Mare Lee ― UCF

DB Chase Lloyd ― Vanderbilt

WR Robert Lockhart III ― Langston Hughes High School

DL/LB Sylvester Mathis IV ― Temple

DB Judahfy Michel ― St. Lucie West Centennial High School

OL Janik Ogunlade ― Buffalo

DL Malakei Owens ― Amos P. Godby High School

DL Isaiah Pedack ― Cisco College

WR Tyler Pye ― UAB

RB Vershod Quinn ― Bethune-Cookman

DL Cherif Seye ― Southeastern Louisiana

ATH Levontai Summersett ― North Fort Myers High School

LB Allen Smith Jr. ― Louisville

K Michael Smith ― Maclay School

OL Kardell Thomas ― LSU

P Trey Wilhoit ― Eastern Illinois/Chiles High School

DB Deco Wilson ― Jacksonville State

DB Twan Wilson ― Lakeland High School

RB Jaquez Yant ― Nebraska/Godby High School

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Here are some of the Rattlers transfer portal needs