This shift comes in response to recent struggles on the field, after the Rattlers loss in their last two games against Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponents. The Rattlers fell 31-12 to Prairie View A&M two weeks ago and narrowly lost 24-21 to Mississippi Valley State last Saturday.
“Coach Burris has assumed playcalling duties for the rest of the year,” Colzie stated to the media. “But we’re not changing anything offensively. We’re just keeping our gameplan the way it’s supposed to be – keep it simple, get the ball to our playmakers, and then allow them to make plays.”
Burris join the FAMU coaching staff this season, as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He came to the Rattlers from the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars.
Joseph Henry, who has served as FAMU’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach since 2022, previously held playcalling responsibilities but was absent from practice on Tuesday. The decision to hand the playcalling duties to Burris reflects Colzie’s urgency to improve the team’s offensive production as they approach critical matchups.
Despite these challenges, FAMU remains competitive in the SWAC, currently ranked third in total offense and seventh in scoring offense, averaging 22.5 points per game among the conference’s 12 teams. The Rattlers hold a 5-5 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the SWAC, positioning them for a pivotal rivalry game against Bethune-Cookman this Saturday.
Colzie still has not yet addressed -- at least publicly-- the Rattlers defensive struggles, which has been a glaring issue all season.
The highly anticipated Florida Classic rivalry game is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, with the matchup being broadcast live on ESPNU. As FAMU prepares to face their longtime rivals, the team and coaching staff will look to harness Burris’s leadership in the hopes of closing out the season on a high note.