MKRob Sports

FAMU Rattlers senior running back Phillip Sylvester is poised for a great 2010 season

About FAMU:

Head Coach – Joe Taylor

Returning Starters – 13 (6 offense/7 defense, kicker and punter)

Key Offensive Players – RB Philip Sylvester, Sr., WR Isaac West, Sr., WR Kevin Elliot, Jr., LT Brandon Curry, Jr.

Key Defensive Players – LB John Williams, So., LB Alvis Graham, Jr., CB Qier Hall, Sr., CB Curtis Holcomb, Sr., FS Greg Harvey, Jr.

Florida A&M is coming off an 8-3 season in 2009. The Rattlers closed out the year winning four of their last five, including a 42-6 victory over Bethune-Cookman in their season finale. This year, FAMU is predicted to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference behind South Carolina State.

Five Rattlers also earned preseason all-conference honors this year, including leading tackler Alvin Graham and top receiver Isaac West. Graham is coming off a 69-tackle, 6.5 tackle-for-a-loss season while West had a team-high 641 receiving yards a year ago.

2010 Outlook: Having coached Hampton for 16 seasons, Taylor knows what it takes to field successful teams in the MEAC. It usually means having a strong quarterback, and this season either Ukpai or Battle – or both – will have to replace 2009 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Curtis Pulley.

Sylvester should benefit with more carries after Pulley rushed for 881 yards last season. The receivers, led by Elliott, form a particularly strong unit. Both lines should be improved. The special teams lost all-world returner Leroy Vann, who returned five punts for touchdowns last season.

With Ukpai and Battle seemingly ready at QB, and some underclassmen stepping into key roles, the Rattlers figure to be even better than last season.

Prediction: 9-2