Florida A&M’s Ashton Grable and TJ Huggins are expected to be among the best HBCU football players during the 2025 season.

The Rattler duo is of 20 named to Stats Perform’s HBCU National Player of the Year Watch List, given to the top player of Black College football on the NCAA Division I level.

Grable, an offensive lineman, anchors FAMU’s frontline as he helped the Rattlers have the third-best offense in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder from Gordon, Georgia, has also been named a Preseason All-SWAC First Teamer, FCS All-American Third Team, and a 2025 Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List member entering his redshirt senior year.

Huggins, a cornerback, earned the preseason HBCU Player of the Year nomination after leading FAMU with three interceptions last year. Huggins also made the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. The Miami native will be a redshirt senior this year, too.

FAMU football will open its 2025 season on Aug. 30 in the Orange Blossom Classic versus Howard at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

Training camp begins on Friday, Aug. 1.

The Rattlers return from having a 7-5 record last season.

Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule

  • Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
  • Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
  • Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
  • Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
  • Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
  • Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TV
  • Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GO
  • Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN Plus
  • Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TV
  • Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN Network
  • Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
  • Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
  • Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium)
  • Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
  • Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
  • Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
  • Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville’s FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)

All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.