Dominating the line of scrimmage is vital to a football team’s success.

So, that’s what Florida A&M plans to do this season.

Again.

Out of all position groups, the Rattlers’ offensive line returns the most starters from last season’s Black College Football National Championship team.

Ashton Grable, named a Boxtorow Preseason HBCU All-America selection on July 31, headlines the Rattlers’ trench mob. Another All-American talent on the FAMU offensive line is Jalen Goss, earning the honor in 2022.

“We know that we brought back the most talent and experience,” Grable said Friday after the Rattlers’ eighth preseason practice. “We’re just trying to harp on that and get better every day.”

FAMU assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Joseph Henry oversees the Rattlers’ offensive line.

Players he identifies as good fits for the Rattlers are those who can play multiple spots within the offensive line.

Versatility allows Henry to tinker with different personnel to place on the field together.

“We’re trying to mix up the lineups and figure out who plays well with who the best,” Henry said. “I’m pleased with where we are, but we still have a long way to go.”

TJ Lee is one of the multifaceted players that Henry searches for.

Joining the Rattlers in 2021, the four-year starter has played the compound role of center and guard. Lee said he’s played right guard, left guard, and center during this season’s training camp.

“The best five is going to play at FAMU,” Lee said. “Most guys can play all three interior spots and both tackle spots. It’s kind of a blessing to have that in our group.”

As FAMU football assesses other offensive positions, the line remains a constant

The Rattlers know what to expect from their offensive line.

And as FAMU lets its quarterbacks battle it out for who will start at Aug. 24’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge versus Norfolk State in Atlanta, a formidable offensive line creates some relief in that decision.

“When you’re breaking in a new quarterback, possibly, you can always depend on having a quality offensive line and running the football. The quarterback will also have to make some throws,” said FAMU head coach James Colzie III.

“Having those guys back and looking in the room, you see the Goss, the Grables, the Lees, the Reyes ― all these guys playing quality snaps. It’s a blessing for us.”

Junior Muratovic and Daniel Richardson headline the Rattlers’ quarterback competition at training camp.

The FAMU offensive line has no preference for who takes the first snap.

Lee says the trench mob will protect any quarterback at all costs.

“I don’t care who it is as long as we get the ball in the box. We’re going to protect whoever’s back there,” Lee said. “If it’s a fifth-string quarterback, we’ll protect him like he’s the first-string.”

FAMU's offensive line's off-field connection translates to the football field

Henry has a tradition of leading bonding activities for his offensive linemen.

The Rattlers’ moving crew has spent innumerable time eating dinner with each other. FAMU’s offensive line also gets to have an extra position group gathering while their teammates are in special teams meetings.

“I try hard to give them opportunities to get to know each other better and bond outside of football. Let’s remove the pressure of performance and let our hair down,” Henry said.

“It’s enjoyable. It’s fun. I genuinely enjoy being around my guys. Personality and demeanor are the things we look at in the recruiting process.”

Bonding is critical to the success and cohesion of the FAMU offensive line.

“We’re a close group. When we come on the field, we click,” Grable said.

Since returning to FAMU’s staff in 2022, Henry spent his tenure stacking the deck on the Rattlers’ offensive line.

However, what Henry cherishes most is the time spent and his connection with the offensive linemen.

“The big guys are always funny, too. There’s never a dull moment,” Henry said.

“There’s a ton of inside jokes and giving each other a hard time. But at the end of the day, they all know they’re there for each other. They support each other.

“Our identity is ‘The Mob,’ and that’s how we’re playing right now."

Next is FAMU’s ninth football practice and first scrimmage on Saturday, which are closed to the public. FAMU football will host a media Zoom afterwards.

Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule

• Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., ABC

• Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Sept. 7 at Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network

• Sept. 21 at Troy, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network

• Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network

• Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+

• Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO

• Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network

• Nov. 30: FCS Playoffs Begin

• Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2

• Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12 p.m., ABC

BOLD = SWAC

* = Neutral Site

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How FAMU football's offensive line leads the Rattlers at training camp