Coming Together: B.J. Bohler takes lead as FAMU secondary teams up to recoup key losses
Teamwork is going to make the dream work for the Florida A&M defensive backs this season.
Former All-American free safety Markquese Bell has moved on to chase his NFL dreams with the Dallas Cowboys. His former running mate Antwan Collier holds weight on the Bragg Memorial Stadium turf, too.
Training camp is allowing the Rattlers to decipher how they recuperate the lost production of the two hard-hitting safeties as it will take some reshuffling of the secondary.
"It's about the group as whole raising their level to what Markquese and Antwan Collier showed us last year," Coach Willie Simmons said. "They saw Markquese's work ethic and approach to the game pay off with an NFL contract.
"Those guys have really bought in to the work ethic and mindset to be a dominant unit. Javan's a ball hawk. B.J. is another cover corner. We have some ability back there."
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Lead the way
Despite losing two of their top four tacklers in 2021, Preseason All-SWAC First Team cornerback B.J. Bohler says that the secondary is more stacked than years before.
The range of wide receivers that have been presented to defensive backs has helped them gauge their performance and readiness for the Aug. 27 kickoff at North Carolina.
"I'm going against the best receiving core in the SWAC everyday," Bohler said. "They push us to be the best versions of ourselves and prepares us for gamedays."
The redshirt senior cornerback from Ocoee led the Rattlers with four interceptions in 2021 and is working on becoming more vocal in assisting newcomer with drills and reads.
"Markquese Bell wasn't a super duper vocal guy, but he definitely led by example from his agility, ball skills, and football IQ. I'm being a vocal leader and leading by example in the drills to contribute and help out the backend," Bohler said.
"The defense has been doing very well. We have a lot of depth this year and everyone's hungry. That's what's different from last year. We got a bunch of great talent and makes me want to work even more."
Helping unconditionally
There's no limits to what former Florida High football standout Javan Morgan can do for the secondary.
In some sets, he can line up and nickelback. In others, he'll stand back as a safety.
"I'm just trying to help the team any way that I can," the redshirt junior said. "If coach asks me to do something in the coverage, that's what I'm going to do."
Morgan intercepted opposing quarterbacks three times in 2021 which was second on the team. He was named to the All-SWAC defensive second team for the 2022 season.
"I'm trying to be better than second team, but I'm thankful for it. For the picks, I just work hard like everybody else and read my keys."
A year ago, the Rattlers placed in the top ten in FCS defensive rankings. There's no expectation short of it and they are acting as such.
"We're coming back the same or better," Morgan said.
"We want to be the best defense in the country."
Holding it down
Former Louisville defensive back Lovie Jenkins has it all handled.
Entering his second season with FAMU, he agreed to move spots on the field as he went from a nickelback to free safety to supersede Markquese Bell.
"Markquese Bell was a one of a kind player, but everybody is their own type of player," the Orlando homer Jenkins said. "I can't wait for the season to show everybody that the position isn't missing any talent.
"It's held down."
The FAMU defense has a chip on its shoulder. Through the doubts that stem from losing players, mirroring the same success they enjoyed in 2021 is at the top of the list.
"With a couple of missing guys from last year, a lot of people are thinking that the defense may have fell off. We're working to get better because we have a lot to prove to show that the defense didn't fall off," Jenkins said.
"I'm not even going to lie, this year we're going to be crazy. From what I've seen this summer, we're going to be really good."
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: DB's coming together to mirror success of 2021
