In correspondence with the Florida A&M Rattlers' Fall Football Training Camp (Aug. 4-Aug. 26), Tallahassee Democrat reporter Gerald Thomas, III will chronicle the team as it prepares for the 2023 season by providing practice reports, player and coach spotlights, and inside looks at the program as they become available. Thomas presents, 'FAMU HARD KNOCKS.'

Respect them.

That's all the Florida A&M Rattlers tight ends ask for.

Playing the tight end position requires having one of the most versatile skillsets on the football field. They have to block like an offensive lineman and possess sure hands like a wide receiver.

"Tight ends really set the tempo in our offensive because they're the guys that allow us to be the most versatile to open up the offense," sixth-year head coach Willie Simmons (54-23 overall, 33-12 at FAMU) said.

"We move them around a lot trying to create favorable matchups. Those guys have to be really smart, really dynamic, and they're playmakers that help."

The Rattlers' tights ends are Kamari Young, Jeremiah Pruitte, Koby Gross, and newcomer Jackson Gay.

Young, Pruitte, and Gross combined for 29 catches, 323 receiving yards, and four touchdowns as redzone threats for FAMU starting quarterback Jeremy Moussa in 2022.

"We were in the training room arguing about who has the toughest job in football the other day ― quarterbacks, corners, centers. And I threw tight ends in there because they have to know the run assignments, the protection assignments, and passing routes," Moussa said.

"It's a position where you have to know what's going on and be tied into a lot of things," Moussa continued. "You have to be physically dominant in certain areas.

"Not everyone can be a tight end. They do a great job for us. It's definitely an integral part of our offense."

Numbers wise, the tight end quartet is the smallest position group on FAMU's roster. But the lineman-receiver hybrids have two coaches assigned to lead the group.

The players get the best of both worlds from their position coaches, who have either on-field experience as a traditional lineman, tight end ― or both.

James Spady was a four-year starter at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) from 1985-1988, playing the center position as a two-time All-WAC First Team selection. He also played professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Denver Dynamite and Sacramento Attack.

"The tight end position in any offense is an actual weapon," Spady said. "These are big guys that can move fast and create mismatches. And if people don't prepare for that, it's going to be too late by the time they figure it out. So, we have to be excellent all the time because you don't know when you'll get another chance to make a play.

"As a former offensive lineman, I was never looking for headlines. As a tight end, you get some of that," Spady continued. "But, it's better when you do it for the love of the team and its betterment.

"As a group, we have to play the long game because we try to do so much to elevate and rise up above our circumstances. Constantly, the talk is about to get a little bit better and put one step in front of the other."

On the other end is Casey Warming, a Tallahassee native and Lincoln High School alumnus. Warming played offensive lineman and fullback at Marshall before transferring to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school Grambling State, converting to tight end. His college career lasted from 2016-2021.

"We're a little down in numbers, but we have a lot of playmakers," Warming said. "We have a lot on our plate as offensive coaches helping out, trying to get these guys the ball to help us get situations where we can win the ballgame.

"I've taken everything in along the way from the good coaching I've had and translated it to them to let them know I understand the situations they're in because I've done it before. It takes a lot of work, but that's always the kind of guy I've been. I don't shy away from the details. I like to get good, hard, technical work. And the rest is all effort.

"So, once you find that within you to get the good work and get the reps right, you're going to be a really good blocker."

Despite success, FAMU veteran tight end Kamari Young continues to perfect craft

Young, a fifth-year senior, is preparing for his final college football season.

The Godby alumnus has made the most of football career after competing in all 11 games as a true freshman in 2019. He's held down the starting tight end spot ever since, collecting career stats of 36 receptions, 512 yards, and five touchdowns at FAMU.

His transition to college was assisted by his former offensive coordinator, Bobby Green coaching him up at Godby.

"It was a huge transition. Coach Green knows a lot about offense and he tried to split me out wide and keep me tight on all factors of the offense," Young reflected on his college preparation.

Young has worked endlessly with Spady since his freshman year, noting that his position coach is fundamental driven during practices.

"You're going to take the right step, he's going to put you on track to make the right block, you're going to look the ball in and catch it with the perfect diamond," Young said of Spady's coaching approach.

"He doesn't care about the glitz and glamour. Once you get the fundamentals down, then you can throw a little bit of sauce on it."

Young was named Preseason All-SWAC Second Team last month during the conference's media day.

Though he's not worried about outside praise, Young is cognizant of how much tight ends impacts winning from his own personal experience.

"I feel like a tight end is kind of like a center. You only get recognition when it's an outstanding play or if something went really bad," Young said.

"We have to know routes, the offensive line. It's important to be a tight end."

FAMU tight end Jeremiah Pruitte finally hits his stride since being introduced to the position

Pruitte transferred to FAMU from NCAA Division I-FBS Colorado State in 2021.

Upon joining the Rattlers, his then-usual wide receiver position was switched to tight end.

It was a learning experience for Pruitte, as he mostly played special teams during his first year at FAMU. As a tight end, he only caught two passes that year.

But in 2022, Pruitte had 12 receptions for 103 yards, and three touchdowns. He led the tight ends in scores.

Warming, who joined FAMU's staff in 2022, said that he's witnessed Pruitte's improvement and noted that the redshirt senior is more receptive to the coaching.

Pruitte said the same about himself.

"When I first got here, I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off," Pruitte reflected. "I was so used to blocking corners and safeties on the perimeter which was easy since I'm a bigger guy. I had to transition to blocking linebackers and defensive ends.

"This fall camp, I've kind of come around and realized my strength, put my head down and attack.

"Ultimately, it's going to help my game overall."

After the jump in receiving numbers, Pruitte is hungry for more. He's enjoying how the tight ends are being targeted more in the offensive scheme.

In fact, Pruitte had two touchdowns during the second scrimmage of training camp last Saturday ― one from Moussa, the other from reserve quarterback Junior Muratovic.

"I like how they're starting to use the tight ends as more of a dual threat," Pruitte said. "We're more involved in the blocking game which is going to help us get open way more in the passing game.

"I feel like the tight end is the most important position on the field because altogether, we have the most to learn," Pruitte continued. "We become mismatches against every position on the field. We're able to be used in multiple different ways. Coach Simmons likes to split us out wide and as a sniffer in the backfield.

"If you ask me, I believe the tight ends are going to be the best room on the whole team this season when it's all said and done."

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

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers tight ends versatility shows position's value