University of Florida wide receiver T.J. Lawrence announced yesterday that he would be transferring to FAMU to join the Rattler football and baseball teams.Coming out of high school, Lawrence enjoyed first-team all-state honors his senior season at Lakeland's Kathleen H.S. and was an Under Armour All-American. He choose FAMU over South Florida, Eastern Kentucky, South Alabama, Washington State and Pearl River Community College. He asked for a release from his U of Florida football scholarship this week because of his of lack of playing time. He'll be a redshirt sophomore and be able to competing for a starting spot on the football field right away because he's dropping down a division from BCS to Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) level. He'll also get a shot in the return game.
"I think that excites me more than anything, the fact that I'm going to play this year because I've been waiting like forever," he said. "That's the biggest excitement, the fact that I get to play with players I played with in high school and players I played against in high school."
Lawrence will be reunited with former Kathleen teammate Adrian Smith, who is also a receiver at FAMU.
"I'm actually moving in with him," said Lawrence, who will arrive in Tallahassee on Friday.