TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida A&M is once again proving why it remains one of the premier programs in HBCU football, placing five players on the 2025 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team presented by BOXTOROW. The Rattlers' strong showing is second only to defending national champion Jackson State.
Leading the way on offense is running back Thad Franklin, Jr., a graduate student from West Palm Beach, Fla., who returns after a stellar 2024 season. Joining him in the trenches are two standout offensive linemen: Charles Davis, a redshirt senior from Marianna, Fla., and Ashton Grable, a redshirt junior from Gordon, Ga. Their presence up front is expected to anchor one of the most powerful offensive fronts in the SWAC.
On defense, Davion Westmoreland, a graduate defensive lineman from Griffin, Ga., earns preseason honors after being a disruptive force for opposing quarterbacks last year. In the secondary, veteran defensive back TJ Huggins, a redshirt senior from Miami, Fla., brings leadership and proven ball-hawking ability to the Rattlers' defensive backfield.
Florida A&M also has one player receiving honorable mention: Nay'Ron Jenkins, a defensive lineman who continues to make a name for himself as a rising star in the program.
In total, 14 programs are represented among the 30 preseason selections, with the Rattlers cementing their place among the nation's elite HBCU teams. BOXTOROW has named All-America teams since 2007, with voting conducted by national media who cover HBCU football.
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