By james art 
Florida A&M football is coming off its biggest rushing game of 236 yards, which helped the Rattlers score their most points in five years. Here’s how FAMU did it.
WATCH: FAMU RB coach Marcus Windham praises team’s improvement
Marcus Windham is the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Florida A&M Rattlers football team.
The scuff marks of Florida A&M’s running backs are left all over Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
That’s because the Rattlers shut out their last two opponents in the previous two games with their improved rushing attack.
In FAMU’s 24-6 win over Southern, the Rattlers outscored an opponent for the first time this season, defeating the Jaguars 126-122 on the ground.
In the Rattlers’ most recent game, a 52-28 home win over Texas Southern, FAMU dominated with 236 yards on 36 carries (6.6 yards per carry). It was the Rattlers’ first 200-yard rusher this season.
FAMU has totaled 1,063 rushing yards through eight games.
“First and foremost, I’d like to give credit to the offensive line, running backs, quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends. Everybody takes responsibility for that,” FAMU offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joseph Henry said.
“The guys did a great job collectively bringing life to the rushing attack.”
FAMU had three rushers flirt with or eclipse 60 yards last Saturday, with Beau Somerset leading the way with 75 on six attempts. Kelvin Dean Jr. added nine carries and 60 yards. And Thad Franklin Jr. finished with 57 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts.
“When the time came and they let the playmakers take the rock, we just made plays,” Dean said.
FAMU football’s running backs play a major role in the success
With FAMU using a three-running back tandem, unselfishness has to be at the fore, Rattlers coach Marcus Windham says.
Carry may vary depending on the game.
“They have been waiting for this moment. They don’t press the ball. They are team players,” Windham said.
“One thing about this room is we don’t have a jealous dude in there and they are their biggest cheerleaders,” Windham added.
The running game at FAMU requires a versatile skill set, such as blocking and receiving out of the backfield.
This season, Dean, Franklin and Somerset have combined for 37 receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
Dean became one of FAMU’s household names last season with his Offensive Most Valuable Player performance in the Celebration Bowl, when he had three receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns to help the Rattlers rally from behind to defeated the Howard Bison 30-26 for the Black National College Football Championship.
“I think they’re just comfortable with what we’re asking of them,” FAMU head coach James Colsey III said.
“When you play running back for us, it’s not just about running the football — you have to be able to defend, catch the ball out of the backfield and ultimately run the football behind what I think is the best offensive line in the conference.”
FAMU football is experimenting with practices to help the running backs
FAMU knew it had to make changes it wanted to improve its rushing attack.
So, the Rattlers overhauled their practice structure and implemented more running drills against the starting defense instead of primarily against the scout team.
Dean said he and his fellow FAMU running backs have “improved dramatically” since then.
So it’s no coincidence that the Rattlers put 52 points on Texas Southern for their highest-scoring game since 2019.
“It prepares you for the speed and power of the game. The good in good work is a much more realistic picture of the time and distance between those runs,” Henry said of tinkering with the training route.
“I would attribute realignment of the practice structure to a large part of our success.”
FAMU football gets its first rushing touchdown of the season
Finally.
FAMU got its first rushing touchdown eight games into the season thanks to a one-yard run by Franklin in the fourth quarter of the Rattlers’ win over Texas Southern.
Franklin’s score ended eight games filled with jokes and dialogue about FAMU’s rushing struggles.
“They trolled us all year. So it was good that I got one,” Franklin said, laughing. “We’re going to get another touchdown.”
Henry backs up Franklin’s claims of racking up more rushing touchdowns this season.
He thinks FAMU’s running backs reaching the end zone create a newfound desire to cross the flat for six points.
“It was a sigh of relief,” Henry said. “You look at it from a basketball shooter’s point of view — once you see the ball go, it gives you that confidence. We’re looking to continue to build and grow from there.”
FAMU football’s running backs have room for improvement heading into the season
FAMU rose from 11th to ninth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings.
Things are looking up in the Rattlers backfield. But there is still work to do as they look to be a dynamic backfield.
“We’re still leaving a lot out there,” Windom said. “As a collective, we do a really good job of getting those guys in, putting them where they’re needed and getting the ball into space. They just have to be ready when their numbers are called.”
FAMU (5-3, 3-1 in SWAC) has four regular season games remaining, starting with a trip to Texas for a Week 11 SWAC game at Prairie View A&M (4-5, 2-3 in SWAC). Kickoff is at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN Plus.
The Rattlers need to take their ground production on the road after an impressive two-game home stretch.
Four strong rushing games could help the Rattlers win as they battle out of third place in the SWAC East standings behind Jackson State and Alabama State.
“You can’t go too low or too high,” Dean said. “We just stayed the course and bided our time. Now it’s time to finish the season strong.”
Florida A&M at Prairie View A&M ― Week 11, SWAC
When: Saturday, November 9 at 3:00 PM ET
Where: Panther Stadium; Prairie View, Texas
Broadcasting: ESPN Plus, the Rattlers mobile app
Tickets: Buy here
Gerald Thomas III is an award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers in the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and reach him by email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.